Boulder Running Camps: Fundamentals of Running, part 1

Posted on July 29, 2011 by CoachJay

One the important aspects of the Boulder Running Camps are the presentations on training methodology. I really enjoy interacting with the campers in this setting; they have great questions and I’m always impressed with their desire learn.

Patrick Wales-Dinan, who has done a ton of work for the camp this summer, has taken the time to edit some video from the presentations. The videos are 10 minutes long so you might want to let the entire video download before you watch it. I hope you enjoy the presentation and as always I’m happy to answer any questions you have.

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  • CoachKedge

    Man, I sure miss being up at the BRC.  If you ever get a chance to attend, as a coach or a runner, go!  I promise, you'll enjoy the city, the camp, Jay's presentations, and the runs around the Boulder.  Best camp around!  I hope to be back next summer and hope to meet many new young runners.   Coach Adam Kedge, Albuquerque Academy HS, Abq. NM.

  • http://coachjayjohnson.com CoachJay

    Thanks for your kind words Coach Kedge.  You and your athletes are welcome back at camp anytime.

  • Nowhere Coach

    Great video for new & experienced coaches! 

    It's so easy, as a coach, to get wrapped-up in the fervor of the season & the end goal (of going for a state title) that we can lose sight of the human body's (i.e. our student athlete) limitation.

    And, with our student athlete in mind, we need to remember all the outside stimuli applied to these kids too (school, homework, girlfriend troubles, parents divorcing, body image issues, whatever).  Then, they come to practice (after a whole day at school) & expect them to do mile repeats or hill work.  Whew!

    In the end, the best we, as coaches, can do is simply be there for our student athletes & give them a safe place to challenge themselves through running.  Give them a “home” & they'll run through fire for you!

  • Bryan

    I like your approach of having one less workout, and having two rest days. I really can tell the difference having a two day rest. I feel fresh, and can nail the workouts. I have a question, should I double on workout days, or recovery days. I am going to start with one double a week. Also, when I am feeling more tired during the week, I like having two medium workout days back to back. Less stress, and great benefits. Something like a progression run, and a easy run with hills. The progression run ends with a faster pace, and the hills are a secret workout.

  • Coachwebby

    When is part 2 coming out?!!!!  I can”t wait!!

  • http://coachjayjohnson.com CoachJay

    I really believe in more rest as a the default move when things aren't going well.  My good friend Oscar Ponce and I discussed this at length one night during camp.  Easy to over train, but it's also easy to fix…just rest.  Easy runs and some strides for a few days until the athlete feels poppy again.

  • http://coachjayjohnson.com CoachJay

    Hans Selye and the General Adaptation Syndrome.  This should be a fundamental lesson that coaches and athletes are exposed to.

  • http://coachjayjohnson.com CoachJay

    Glad you liked part 1 – here is part 2

    http://www.coachjayjohnson.com…

  • Bryan

    I agree with running an easy day until you feel fresh. I am just saying that sometimes I hard week, and I need a week that will let me recover, but still get some quality workouts. For instance, this week I am so busy with work, and school that I have limited time. Since I do not want to be too exhausted form hard workouts, I did a steady state run today, and tomorrow I will run 60 mins (warm up, 5 min hills, 5 min off hills, for 40 min, cool down). 

    When I incorporate doubles, should I do it on a hard day?

  • http://coachjayjohnson.com CoachJay

    I think you should double on the hard days, not the easy days.  This follows the “hard days hard, easy days easy” philosophy that has been successful for many athletes and coaches.  You have to recover and you need your easy days to let your body “absorb” the training.  I think limiting the number of workout to just two when school or work are stresses is a good idea.  And like you're doing, you can follow up a workout day with a medium workout the next day, but then you need to make sure that you take and easy day (or two) after that.

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