What do you do between Indoors and Outdoors?

While there are different rules in each state governing high school track and field, many runners are faced with a challenge at the end of indoor track: what do they during the short time before official practice starts for outdoor track? As always, if you're a high school athlete reading this, you should consult with your coach and ask what their recommendations are. My advice is simple. If you raced indoors, then you need to give your body a break from workouts with intensity - i.e. no repeat 400's or killer sessions of repeat miles. Even workouts like threshold runs, which are great throughout most of the year, can wait a week or 10 days, until you resume formal practice. But running strides three times a week, getting in a nice weekly long run and making sure you're doing all of the General Strength that you did during indoors are all appropriate during this period…as long as you keep the intensity low. Remember, the outdoor season will last several months and that's when you'll have a chance to make another jump in fitness. Use this break between Indoors and Outdoors to stay active and to let your body regenerate, preparing it for the grueling schedule of multiple competitions each week throu ghout the Outdoor season. While you don't need to take time off completely from running, make sure that you're not trying train during the short window between Indoors and Outdoors.  

Jay