The Purpose Behind the Plan

At EDT, we put a lot of thought into workouts. Mileage, reps, pace, recovery, progression, timing. There are a million ways to put a training plan together, and that's part of what makes coaching both challenging and fun.

As we begin another season, it's a good time for all of us as coaches to reflect on a simple question: What is the purpose of what we're doing, and is it right for the athletes standing in front of us?

Not the athletes we wish we had. Not another team across the country. The athletes we have, right now.

It's easy to hear what another successful coach or program is doing and wonder if we should be doing it too. Maybe it's higher mileage, more threshold work, different intervals, or the newest training idea making the rounds. We believe there is a ton we can learn from other coaches, research, and successful programs. But what we hear about another program is usually only a small part of the equation. Different coach, different kids, different training history, different environment.

The same goes for our own experiences. What worked for us as athletes doesn't automatically mean it will work for the kids we coach. Experience matters, but so does being willing to evolve.

Individualize

Individualization is a huge part of how we approach training at EDT. Cross country is a team sport, but that doesn't mean every athlete needs to do the exact same thing every day.

Kids respond differently to training, and that goes well beyond mileage. Some respond really well to volume. Others thrive with more speed, hills, threshold work, shorter intervals, or additional recovery. Two athletes can run nearly identical times and still need different training to take their next step.

One of the first things we consider is also one of the simplest: what has worked for this athlete before?

If an athlete has been healthy, improving, enjoying training, and responding well to something, there may be no reason to completely change it. Build on what works. Modification becomes more important when progress stalls, circumstances change, or the athlete begins responding differently.

Individualizing isn't always easy with a large group, but small adjustments matter. Different reps, paces, distances, recovery, volume, or sometimes a different workout altogether can help us meet athletes where they are instead of forcing everyone into the same box.

Keep Coming Back to Purpose

At EDT, we want to know why a workout is on the schedule. What are we trying to accomplish? What does the science tell us about that type of training? Does it fit where we are in the season? What did the athletes do two days ago, and what are we asking them to do two days from now?

We also have to think beyond the next race. Of course we want athletes to run fast this season, but we're also trying to develop runners who can continue improving for years.

More isn't always better, and harder isn't always better. The right stimulus, for the right athlete, at the right time is what we're after.

Watch and Listen

Some of the most useful feedback we get doesn't come from a watch or a training log. It comes from watching the athletes themselves.

Are they smiling, talking, encouraging each other, and excited to train? Are they finishing difficult sessions tired but proud? Or are we seeing frustration, negativity, recurring injuries, or athletes becoming closed off?

We ask questions. How did that feel? How are your legs? How did you feel the next day? Athletes don't design the program, but their feedback absolutely helps us coach them better.

We want athletes walking away from challenging sessions feeling successful. Tired? Absolutely. Challenged? Hopefully. But also confident that they accomplished something. If that consistently isn't happening, that's information for us as coaches too.

Keep Adjusting

Timing matters. Some athletes may still be building while others are beginning to taper. One group may need more aerobic development while another needs speed. One athlete may benefit from another rep while another has already gotten everything they needed from the session.

Sometimes the workout we planned is exactly right. Sometimes we change it halfway through. Sometimes what worked last season needs a small adjustment this season. That's part of coaching.

At EDT, we're always trying to learn. We talk to other coaches, follow the research, look at what has worked in the past, and aren't afraid to try something new. But all of that information eventually has to come back to the same place: the athletes standing in front of us.

Are they improving? Are they healthy? Are they enjoying the process? Are they responding to the training? What has worked for them before, and what might they need now?

There isn't one perfect system. Good coaching is continuing to learn, reflect, individualize, and adjust while never losing sight of the athletes we get the opportunity to coach.