Cross Country Tip

Presented by Ray Appenheimer, Camp Director

Coach Appenheimer’s advice on creating a training schedule

Head Cross Country Coach at Oberlin College, Ray Appenheimer likes to give his athletes the “do’s/don’ts” of best practices. Throughout this year, we plan to post his most famous “do’s/don’ts” and give our campers a bit more insight.

Do’s/Don’ts #4:

DO

Sit down with your coach or a knowledgeable adult before the summer begins to map out a training schedule that will be appropriate for your age, experience and your goals for the season.

DON’T

Make up a running schedule on your own or try to figure it out day by day. Don’t download a generic training schedule from the internet.

Nike Running Camps break-down of the DO!

What better way to create a training regimen than to get help from a professional? So many kids feel that they don’t need help, and that they can do it all on their own. What they don’t realize is that building a relationship with the coach is not only crucial for building a good training schedule, but also for the future of their careers. Not only does the coach have more knowledge than the athlete, but they could also have an important say in what your future after high school has in store.

If the coach you make the schedule with gives you something that you have tried for a couple weeks and you feel that you can do more, ask him to go over it again with you. This will surely get the coaches attention and make him realize that you are a disciplined and hard-working athlete. The more help you are willing to get and the more coachable of an athlete you are, the greater the chance is for improvement in your running. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!