Yesterday we spoke about "pack running." Clearly, I'm opposed to it, and as I mentioned I've only once asked a team to do it. Also take into account that I asked it be limited to the first two miles of a 5K and I stood at the 2 mile mark to insure that's how it went. The circumstances were that the top 7 (yes, seven) athletes were all within 15-30 seconds of each other in the 5K and I wanted the number 4-7 runners to gain confidence and experience being at the front. What I did NOT want was to show up the other team by having a group of runners cross the finish line together with smiles on their faces. Fortunately, while the athletes finished in the top 7 spots there was a dramatic difference in abilities over the last mile (which was anticipated and previously discussed) and nearly all the runners had separated. For training purposes there is something to be gained by "pack running" or "shadowing" as I prefer to call it. Running reps at a faster pace with a runner you know or feel is slightly better than yourself can build both speed and confidence. But I come down on the side of sportsmanship when it comes to competition. A few years back an opposing coach responded to a race won by one of our athletes by commenting (directly to our athlete) he would have liked to have seen the results if his kids "tried." True story! Others brag about victories or diminish the performance of an opponent by claiming to have completed a "tempo run." Here, each runner is expected to go about his/her business to the best of his/her ability. Each and every time out. When you stray from that in any segment of a race, you're setting yourself up for disappointment and shortfall with respect to individual and team goals. The truth is that very few teams have athletes with precisely the same ability as another teammate. It stands to reason then that in order to run YOUR best race you must compete to YOUR level of ability. You shouldn't slow down to pace a runner who has not reached your ability level, and I don't expect anybody to run at a pace he/she can't maintain over an entire race. Long segue but where I'm going with this is that over the balance of the season you will be tested. The Patriot League is balanced and competitive. You will need your best performances if you hope to have the chance of winning any meet. Evidence? Look at the race results of your opponents. You want projections? You'll see precisely what I mean. My group will discuss that after warm up.
Today may, in fact, be good day for "shadowing." 1K repeats with long recovery at new paces. Let's get ready for a difficult meet with a talented Plymouth North team. You can thump your chest about that A+ you're carrying in physics. I would. But there is ALWAYS room for improvement on the athletic field. Don't rest on your laurels. Gear up. Its a very tough road ahead and the preparation continues. On that line. At 2:30.
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