Getting the most out of each training week can sometimes seem daunting for a coach, especially if you have several different training groups you coach each day. Couple that with having to work around the weather, school events and holidays, it can get frustrating for a coach if they get off track of their training program. One practice that you may find effective is working meets into the training cycle as not just a competition, but also as a training workout.
A common phrase you will hear top athletes use is "training through a meet" which basically means they are substituting a race as a training workout, often with various goals such as qualifying for a championship meet with as little effort as necessary (usually in order to keep healthy while still acquiring a qualifying time) or working the meet into their training program. Here are some ways you can incorporate the same concept in your own program:
- If circumstances caused an athlete to miss a specific workout or two, entering them into competitions that will stimulate the same energy system can be a route to attempt to "make up" that workout. For instance, if an athlete missed a Vo2 max workout (workout done at 3200 race pace), entering them into the 3200 for a meet can stimulate that energy system. If an athlete missed a lactate tolerance workout (800 race pace or faster) entering them into the 400 or 4x400 can be the route you want to go.
- During cross country, practicing race tactics is far easier, with athletes having much more control over their pacing (not having to worry about running in no man's land which happens often in track track). Trying different race strategies during an actual race is far better than during training as you get a true feel of how a strategy went. Attempting a certain pace through the first mile or two can challenge an athlete just as much as a workout session.
- If you like to focus your training workouts with longer reps, especially as a distance coach, using your runners in sprint or middle distance events can do a lot for your athletes foot speed. Getting in 400s, 4x400s, etc., can get your athlete the speed work they need while maintaining a higher volume of training during the week.
Try using the race as a workout many weeks, especially considering the odds of setting a PR each week is 0%. You may find that having an extra day in your "training" cycle opens up your weekly training quite a bit.