NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay, so I recently had a conversation with my new coach about racing strategies and what not, and I had a bit of a disagreement with him.

We were talking about races that I have ran in the past, and naturally he was asking me about the story of the race. We came upon the topic of my race at the Cross Country State Championships where I got second place overall, a race that I consider one of the finest I ever ran (I was expected to get eighteenth).

Well I was telling him about how I ran it, speeding up my pace every mile until I was going faster than anyone else by the finish. He told me that the way I ran was retarded, and as soon I get to college he is going to make me change the way I run because apparently the way I run right now is no good (despite the success it has had I guess), and I need to become a kicker (someone who holds back until the very end and then goes).

Would I be in the wrong to tell him that he does not know me yet, and therefore does not know how I should race?

Would you be in the wrong? Morally no, pragmatically, yes, because he'll pick someone who's his bitch instead.

Would you be in the wrong? Morally no, pragmatically, yes, because he'll pick someone who's his bitch instead.

Yeah, that might be true...

Well, I could always say I will do it his way but just end up doing it my way, but that may send me to an even worse place.

Success at one level does not necessarily transform to success at the next level.

Who has more experience in setting the tactics for a race at the collegiate level - you or your coach?

He may have some reason for putting things the way he is - in fact I'd go as far as to say that he does have some reason.

The relationship between an athlete and the coach is always difficult to get right. The coach has to have some authority, otherwise why bother with a coach, but in the end of the day it is the athlete that is out there running. Try discussing with him, why he believes that you have to change style. There have been great runners that have used each of the two styles described, but I know of no truly great middle and long distance runner that didn't have a kick available at the end of the race.
Gradually upping the tempo does not preclude introducing a kick.

Success at one level does not necessarily transform to success at the next level.

Who has more experience in setting the tactics for a race at the collegiate level - you or your coach?

He may have some reason for putting things the way he is - in fact I'd go as far as to say that he does have some reason.

The relationship between an athlete and the coach is always difficult to get right. The coach has to have some authority, otherwise why bother with a coach, but in the end of the day it is the athlete that is out there running. Try discussing with him, why he believes that you have to change style. There have been great runners that have used each of the two styles described, but I know of no truly great middle and long distance runner that didn't have a kick available at the end of the race.
Gradually upping the tempo does not preclude introducing a kick.

Yes, but where is the glory and sportsmanship in sitting behind a guy for two and a half miles and then busting out a winner in the last eight hundred

Placing better than expected isn't exactly a resounding triumph for your method.

I think you should give your coach's way an honest try. Do it his way for a while, familiarize yourself with it and learn what you can from it if after that, you notice no improvement in your performance over how you used to ran nor improvement from when you started do it the coach's way, talk to him about it and ask to be given the opportunity to show him what you can do your way. This will allow you to avoid unnecessary conflict with your coach, learn some potentially valuable skills that could be useful no matter how you choose to run and allows you to argue your point from an objective point of knowledge instead of from the subjective one you are at now.

If that doesn't work, poop on the hood of his car. :)

Yes, but where is the glory
In winning.
and sportsmanship
Seeing as this is standard form for running at any professional level, it seems pretty sportsmanlike. As in 'like a sportsman would do it'.

I think you should give your coach's way an honest try. Do it his way for a while, familiarize yourself with it and learn what you can from it if after that, you notice no improvement in your performance over how you used to ran nor improvement from when you started do it the coach's way, talk to him about it and ask to be given the opportunity to show him what you can do your way. This will allow you to avoid unnecessary conflict with your coach, learn some potentially valuable skills that could be useful no matter how you choose to run and allows you to argue your point from an objective point of knowledge instead of from the subjective one you are at now.

If that doesn't work, poop on the hood of his car. :)

Well, strategies aside, I know I will show improvement, since I have nearly doubled my work load (I averaged fifty miles per week in my senior summer of high school, and now I am doing ninety MPW).

In winning.

Seeing as this is standard form for running at any professional level, it seems pretty sportsmanlike. As in 'like a sportsman would do it'.

Yeah, true.

Yes, but where is the glory and sportsmanship in sitting behind a guy for two and a half miles and then busting out a winner in the last eight hundred

There.

Okay, so I recently had a conversation with my new coach about racing strategies and what not, and I had a bit of a disagreement with him.

We were talking about races that I have ran in the past, and naturally he was asking me about the story of the race. We came upon the topic of my race at the Cross Country State Championships where I got second place overall, a race that I consider one of the finest I ever ran (I was expected to get eighteenth).

Well I was telling him about how I ran it, speeding up my pace every mile until I was going faster than anyone else by the finish. He told me that the way I ran was retarded, and as soon I get to college he is going to make me change the way I run because apparently the way I run right now is no good (despite the success it has had I guess), and I need to become a kicker (someone who holds back until the very end and then goes).

Would I be in the wrong to tell him that he does not know me yet, and therefore does not know how I should race?
either your coach is good enough to coach you or he isnt.

if he is, you need to do what he says; if he isnt you need to find a different coach.

Do it his way, but intentionally lose. Repeat until he tells you to do it your way. (Note: please, do not take this advice as completely serious)

Considering his way is what is utilized by professional racers, I'd say try his.

Not to mention, he is your coach. He is there for a purpose (to coach you). If you aren't willing to accept his authority and leadership, you are on the wrong team. Find a new coach.

If you give his method an honest try and it doesn't work for you (and I mean you try it for a year or so and still notice nothing), see what you can take from it and integrate into your own method.

The one he suggests, however, will likely be the one that works. I don't know any XC coaches that don't suggest the method he told you.

I have to say, your method doesn't make much sense to me, but I've never been a long-distance runner. I'm built for sprints. Anything over 400 m, you're probably going to have to get a pack of hungry dogs to chase me if you want me to keep going.

I'd try what he told you. Maybe you'll find out that you don't like it, but maybe you'll find that you don't really like running, either, if that's what you have to do to win.

I have to say, your method doesn't make much sense to me, but I've never been a long-distance runner. I'm built for sprints. Anything over 400 m, you're probably going to have to get a pack of hungry dogs to chase me if you want me to keep going.

I'd try what he told you. Maybe you'll find out that you don't like it, but maybe you'll find that you don't really like running, either, if that's what you have to do to win.

I was distance (granted, my longest race was 2 mile as I couldn't stand the XC coach), and it still doesn't make much sense...I was trained to run the front, jog the mid, sprint the back