With the fall term set to start, we've got a Back-to-School training special that can make you feel like a kid again. Have you ever glimpsed a high school practice, and noticed the whoosh of young bodies flying around the track or cross-country course? Most high school distance runners have modest talent. What they do have are coaches who know how to train and motivate them to enjoy running, make steady progress and reach their potential. You can get a piece of the action.
Many of the finest coaches are runners themselves like Jim Mitchell, who coaches the Bronxville High girls' team in New York's Westchester County. "Adult runners are not very fluid," he said. "We run 'tight' with short, choppy strides. To improve, we need to work on a smoother running style, and one way to achieve that is to get on the track."
If the prospect of training like a 16-year-old sounds intimidating, fear not. High school-style workouts are versatile and can be adapted to an...