People always ask me this…

Published June 5, 2026

Today, I’d like to discuss people's most common questions about the XC Training System (XCTS).

Quick reminder. The first class in the course is this Sunday at 8:30 pm EDT/5:30 pm PDT.

At that time, the bonuses - 10 copies of Consistency Is Key shipped to you for free, plus the Complete High School Runner course and the Craft of Coaching course - go away.

Learn more about the XCTS here.

Okay, let’s start with the two most common questions and then we’ll get to some other questions I often get about the XCTS program.

Will the XCTS keep my kids injury-free?

And…

Is it worth the investment?

I’ll let Coach Kirby answer these questions for you…

“I have coached for 25 years, and have tried to stay current on training and coaching methodology throughout my career.

I can confidently say the XCTS is the best value and input I've received in my coaching career and was effective both as far as results and injury prevention.

My 25 runner freshman program was 100% on the "no prior training" XCTS plan and for the first time in my coaching career no athlete was injured during the entire season!!!”

Will the XCTS transform my program?

Let’s hear from Coach Schwendinger on this one…

“I feel like I could write a book about how much you have helped me and both my XC and track programs.

Since I started using the Track Training System last spring, used the XCTS summer and fall and the TTS again, we are not even the same program.

We are now a contending team in the state and we were not before I adopted the training.

Yes, I have had to implement it and get kids to buy in, but without you being available to answer questions and provide a framework that truly works, if you implement it as intended, we would not be here.

I know I have said it before, but having healthy kids leads to success, and success leads to belief, and belief leads to excitement and excitement to results for every kid of every level.

You have played such a pivotal role, and I'm excited to continue to work with you in the future.”

Is the XCTS just for new coaches? We’re already making the state meet and I don’t know if it will make an impact on our program.

Dean Longwell’s team was already competing at a high level when he decided to invest in the XCTS. Here’s what happened…

“We were 4th in the state in 2022 and I was looking for something to get us to the next level and on top of the podium.

The XCTS definitely helped not just with structured workout plans, but also post-run work, and some bonus videos (we incorporate a lot of Shannon Thompson’s visualization techniques).

Our runners gained confidence throughout the season and ended up as 2023 class AA Pennsylvania state champions!”

Scott Akers coaches boys in the biggest division in Ohio, a state with great XC teams. Here’s how the XCTS has transformed his program.

“After using the XCTS for only two seasons, the boys at Jackson High School won the first state title in program history.

The XCTS meets the needs of runners of all ability levels.

The warm up and post run activities improve mobility, strength, and flexibility and keep our athletes healthy. Our athletes have embraced the training plans and thoroughly enjoyed the workouts.

Jay is always readily available to guide you through the training system.

I am thrilled with the results of the XCTS.”

Will the XCTS save me time?

Absolutely.

You’ll have progressions for both workouts and post-run strength that you can assign kids the first week of practice.

Teams with 20 kids and 80+ kids have thrived with the XCTS because it has allowed the coach to focus on talking to athletes and building a winning team culture.

Especially powerful are the plans for the kids who come out for the team with “no prior training.” The plan for them will keep you healthy and keep you from tackling injuries all season.

Will you answer my emails?

Yep. All season long, I’ll be with you, helping you make the adjustments needed to ensure your kids race fast, especially in the championship season. The XCTS experience is very much a “done with you” kind of experience. You'll have access to me and my assistant coaches for 12 months, and then lifetime access to the system.

What do you mean by “lifetime updates?”

You have access to this information in the coming years and do not need to purchase it again when I add training to the XCTS.

In the last two months, I updated all the training plans and updated about 70 percent of the videos. This is a tremendous value and unparalleled in coaching education compared to programs that charge a monthly or yearly fee.

How long will it take to learn all the information?

Relative to the hundreds of hours you’ll spend at practice this year, very little.

The XCTS is broken into bite-sized pieces, so you can watch the videos as time allows. Plan on 2-3 hours initially (over 2-3 days) and then a total of 4-6 hours over 2-3 weeks.

That’s it. If you invest this modest amount of time into learning the system, you can transform your program. And you can even watch the videos on 1.25x or 1.5x to speed things up.

I’d like to get my administration to pay for this. Can you process a PO (or take a check)?

Absolutely - we do this every week! Every school district seems to work a bit differently, but we’ll get you any invoices, quotes, W-9s, etc. that you need to get this paid for.

I even have a letter template for you to copy that you can use to send to your AD to show them the value of the XCTS. Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, and simply copy that letter.

Now let me ask you a question...

How much time would it take for you to create multiple 24-week training plans, with multiple post-run strength progressions? And how would you know it’s optimal and not just a hodge-podge of workouts you’ve picked up at clinics that may or may not work?

It would take you a ton of time to put together all of that training…and you’d no doubt question how far away from optimal it would be.

The good news is you don’t have to waste your time putting together a second-rate training plan.

Here’s The Deal...

Each day you hold off on investing in your team’s future, the lower the chance that 2026 will be a transformative year for your team.

You invest once to get the XCTS. You own it forever. You get lifetime updates.

The first live class is this Sunday, June 7th, at 8:30 pm EDT/5:30 pm PDT.

The 10 books, the Complete High School Runner course and the Craft of Coaching course are available today when you enroll in the XCTS.

The books sell for $165, the Complete High School Runner course is $85, the Craft of Coaching course is worth $95, which is $345 in savings.

Together, let’s make 2026 a special year for your athletes.

Let’s go!

Jay

PS - If you’ve read this far you’re likely confident the XCTS can help you and your program. But you probably want to see what you’ll get when you enroll.

Take a bit of time to watch the video where I walk you through what’s inside the XCTS. Just click here and scroll down the page and you’ll see the video.

The XCTS truly is a game changer - just read what the coaches who have the XCTS have experienced this past year.