Published March 5, 2025

This is a short email about a term we’ve all heard, and likely used ourselves: the “rust buster” race.

The rust buster is the first race of the year, one where both the athlete and coach have low expectations. The rationale is that the athlete hasn’t raced in months and that they need to “get a race under their belt” before they can chase PRs.

I’ve used this term for many years, and for younger athletes and athletes new...

Published February 26, 2025 

The official outdoor track season started on Monday here in Colorado. Let's go! 😀

Today I want to talk about one of the most important things you can do this outdoor track season to ensure that in April and May your kids are running PRs and running to their fitness level.

If you don't read the rest of the email, please make sure you do the following:

When you have a break in the weather and it's nice, make sure yo...

Published February 12, 2025

It’s mid-February, and most coaches have a variety of athletes that they are trying to help.

You’ve got some athletes that started running in December and have been fairly consistent over the holidays and all of January. You’ve got other athletes who will be joining you later this month or in March who are playing winter sports.

Today, let’s focus on the athletes who’ve been consistent this winter and what you can d...

Published February 5, 2025 

One of the chapters in ​Consistency Is Key​ that is both overlooked and misunderstood is this: Do Easy Days Easy and Hard Days Hard. I want to spend today talking about the second part of this maxim.

But first, I hope you'll join me tonight for a free live class. It's technically for coaches from the Michigan Coaches Association, but they're opening it up to anybody who wants to join live.

It'll be a concise, fast-...

Published January 22, 2025 

I learned so much from this past weekend's Boulder Running Clinics. It may have been the best one yet, and the 215 coaches from 33 states learned a great deal.

Every year we record the videos of the clinics so that people who can't attend can get all the information.

The videos go on sale this next Monday, January 27th.

I only sell these videos for four days every year.

This year the sale ends next Thursday, Jan...

Published January 15, 2025 

Below, I explain how I assign long runs, why athletes do strides in the last 20 minutes of the run, and how you can "extend the aerobic stimulus."

If these ideas are new to you, you'll want to read below (which will take about 8 minutes to read, yet it's worth it).

But first...

This Weekend's Boulder Running Clinics

It's going to be a fantastic weekend even though it's going to be extremely cold and we'll have a ...

Published December 6, 2024 

Here we are on day three of learning about the training your kids need to do from December through May. If you missed the first two emails click ​here​ and ​here​ to read them.

Today, we’re going to talk about 800m training, specifically how you can help boys break 2:00 and girls break 2:20 in the months of April and May.

But first, two things… Don’t forget the live class this Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Paci...

Published December 5, 2024 

You might be wondering, “Wait - Jay emails me on Wednesday and today is Thursday.”' Yes, that's true!

The reason I'm emailing you today is I've got specific instructions and workouts for how you can keep your kids injury-free when the season starts. Tomorrow, I'll follow up with an in-depth email about 800m training. While it's more emails than usual, these strategies could save your season.

I'll dive deeper into t...

Published December 4, 2024 

Have you noticed how the times that used to win medals at the state meet in 2004 or even 2014 aren't even getting kids out of regionals anymore?

I'm on a group text with a bunch of guys I ran with in college, and they're always saying, "it's the shoes and the tracks." 

Sure, that's part of it. But a big part of it is the sophistication of high school coaching right now.

Let's be honest: If you're not doing more so...

Published November 27, 2024 

One of the most crucial concepts I’m going to share in this newsletter is about extending the aerobic stimulus - a principle that has the power to transform your winter training.

Simply put: if you change your approach to training in December and January using this principle, your athletes are going to stay injury-free this winter and run huge PRs in April and May. Make sure you read the entire newsletter to unders...

Published November 20, 2024 

What an exciting time in the season. My daughter's team is heading to NXR this weekend, while other NXR meets are in the books. And California? They're still getting ready to crown their state champs on that historic course of theirs.

Championships are on my mind today (with the NCAA DI meet on Saturday). Let's chat about state championships, NXN champions, and NCAA Division I champions today.

Here's are some quest...

Published November 3, 2024 

What a treat it was to be at the Colorado State Cross Country Championships yesterday! The energy was incredible, and we witnessed so many outstanding performances. It was truly inspiring to see all the hard work come to fruition on such an important day.

I'm reaching out on this Sunday as I know many of you are likely planning your training for the upcoming week.

While this email is primarily focused on post-state ...