Robert Geiger Coach | Get Your Runners Thinking About Turns

 

Many cross-country runners make the mistake of believing that running fast is all there is to it when, in reality, it is more about understanding how best to navigate the terrain and apply various techniques that maximize efficiency.

One of the critical skills in cross-country running is running well off-line and through turns, giving athletes an edge against competitors. Learning this craft early will provide athletes with an edge.

Bob Geiger emphasizes that to help their athletes master this skill, coaches should create workouts replicating the terrain and elevation changes they will encounter on race day while including multiple starts in their routines.

At practice starts, it is critical that all athletes remain together under one leader and don't attempt to break away. This ensures everyone knows their role on the start line and prevents faster runners from trying to leave behind teammates who might want a separate start time.

One of the best drills to teach cross-country athletes how to accelerate out of turns is "The Hand Push." On a grass field, have runners stand before their coach with hands clasped together like they're holding hands, then push with both arms simultaneously - this forces runners to accelerate without taking choppy steps through each turn and will bring them closer to race pace more quickly.