2025-2026 Active Recovery from Cross-Country, December 21, 2025 Week 1, Day 7, the first week of rest , A Sunday run
Well, for most of the 556,000 high school cross country runners in the US, and most in Europe, cross-country season ended over the weekend.
The next 3 weeks will be some easy running, relaxing and enjoying company of family and friends.
Some people like to race at the end of the season (there are some competing at the WA Cross Country in Tallahassee, Florida on January 10, and we wish them luck and good fortune!).
We keep this relaxed, share some fun pictures and keep it relaxed.
Your body needs to recover. Three easy weeks, of light running, exercise, but most importantly, three weeks of non-running, gives you a spiritual, physical and mental break, which is what you and your athletes need.
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Sunday runs and Tuesday nights were my two favorite workouts of the week. On Sundays, most of the year, in college and post-college, I ran 15-22 miles (1:30-2:35) on a hilly course. On Tuesday, during winter it was a workout with Pauly Gyorey on the Los Gatos track, like 20 x 400 meters, 6 x mile or 3 x Mile, 1200 and 800.
Those workouts build us up over the winter.
Now is three weeks of a break. This first Sunday, if you want to run 60 minutes, go ahead, but keep it real easy and run with a friend. You can also just go 30 minutes and really enjoy the break, it is up to you.
I recommend two pairs of training shoes for the fall, such as a NIKE Pegasus PLUS and a NIKE Vomero 18 or Vomero PLUS (shown below) for easy days and long days. The Pegasus PLUS is well constructed, can handle dirt and mud and gives you a stable, comfortable ride without overdoing the cushioning. As always, we do not recommend that you buy your running performance shoes remotely, but go into a real live running store.
If you need a little more cushioning, try the Vomero 18. The Vomero 18 has more cushioning that the Pegasus PLUS. If you like NIKE, I would suggest high schoolers use the NIKE Pegasus PLUS for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I would suggest the Vomero 18 for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I always suggest two pairs of training shoes. Learn more on www.nikerunning.com.
Do you want to be a better cross country runner than you were in the past? Focus and follow our training. It is all about the consistency.
For Winter reading! Self Made Olympian by Ron Daws, A Clean Pair of Heels by Murray Halberg, Pre! by Tom Jordan, Quicksilver, The Mercurial Emil Zatopek, by Pat Butcher, The Destiny of Alain Mimoun, by Pat Butcher (a monograph)
Remember, one day at a time!!!! #crosscountryrunning, #running,
