crosscountry advice?

Question

Well this years crosscountry season has started and its been going good so far since im top 7 now ive been running with the same group everyday but the number 1 kid always goes off longer distance faster pace i kno i can keep up with him but the coach says to run in a group should i start running with him?

Answer 1

well, thats a good question. If you are SURE you can keep up, then try to, but it is always better to finish your planned workout than to start out way too fast and have to end up walking.

I bet the coach will get after him to stay with the rest of you though. He needs to learn to work as a team. Running that hard all the time, will catch up to him. A true winner will find a way to work with the slower folks and help them improve not just take off without everyone else.

Answer 2

I will bet the number one kid has earned the right to run his workout at a higher intensity. I will bet he trained hard over the summer and the coach is aware of this.

If you truely believe that you can keep up with the kid, you probably should. I'd try it first on a shorter workout, or a track workout. You don't want to find out you were wrong on a day where you will be 4 miles out of town.

Talk to your coach about it, he should understand. Perhaps he isn't aware of what summer training you did.

Running is an individual effort, winning is a team effort.

Answer 3

ya. same problem here. I'm the 3rd fastest on the team. This kid is so fast though. He can like sprint the whole 5k course. You should go run with him though. He has no more of a right to do it than you.

Answer 4

just keep up with him. it'll make both of you better overall. because he'll try to go faster away from you, and vice versa. if he does it and your coach doesn't let you do it, i think your coach is playing favourites.....