Coach Greg Weich has built a successful program by stressing consistency in training and building a culture. He has done this by getting the kids to run more as a group all year. He is also a big believer in the coach setting the tone by showing up every day and being excited about running. Unlike many of the other successful programs, Coach Weich’s athletes do not run 7 days a week, but they consistently run year round for 48 weeks a year. Greg thinks the biggest difference in his program, since he took over, has been building the running culture in the school.
Building a successful distance runner is not a short term project. Coach Weich learned from Adam’s State coach Joe Vigil early on that you need to take a long term approach to building a successful distance runner.
Some key points about Coach Weich and his program
- Training 48 weeks a year.
- Focuses on specific work for the courses at the end of the season when it means the most.
- Mix paces in training so working second half of intervals harder.
- He interacts with every kid on the team.
- You can under-train an athlete as easy as over-train. Look at a new runner’s overall athletic development when deciding what they can handle.
- Fartlek is one of the most important runs you can do.
- Early in season, work right through races; towards end of the year, on big meets, he will give a little more rest before a race.
- Peaking is doing more specific work and being a little more rested.
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