Salina South Cross Country Cougars! Racing Tactics

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A strategy is a plan of action. The team race strategy is the plan by which we hope to accomplish team goals. Tactics are the methods the team uses to realize the race plan. Beyond the grand strategy of pack running, each athlete needs to create a specific strategy for each race, and determine what tactics you will employ to execute that strategy.

Strategy

We may employ many different strategies to win races or place as high as we can. The talent of our team, opponents' talent, course layout and conditions, and weather all determine the plan for any given race. As described in another website, we may choose to run as a pack for as long as possible, although many coaches consider pack running a given element. A true strategy is a plan for the entire race, not just a portion of it. For example, our strategy might be to have the entire team run the 1 1/2 miles hard, and then initiate a long surging finish with 600 meters to go. In an easier meet, we might set forth a plan to keep the top three runners together even if our best runner has to slow somewhat to do so. If we are ever outclassed, our team strategy might be to have the top 5 runners finish within a certain time period.

The strategy for each race is a product of the following factors:

Tactics

Tactics are the tools our team uses to realize its race plan and win races. We can specify team tactics, and individuals can employ their own to gain advantage of opponents. To use tactics successfully, though, the team must practice the various skills that will give the team powerful racing weapons.

Matching Up

This tactic is based on scouting or having prior knowledge of the opponent's times and abilities. In matching up, the coach will assign an opponent one of his athletes must beat or run as closely to as possible. He may say to one of the runners, "Your goal is to be in fefteenth place or better." By doing this, the team can predict the score they will have if everyone reaches their goal. A runner may be matched against a specific opponent. I may say to our third runner, "You're goal is to find Hays' number three runner and beat him." An athlete may even be matched by an opponent he/she may not be able to defeat; however, the runner's purpose is not to let any opponent pass him even though he does not defeat his match up. matching up has been used more and more in recent years. It can provide a definite advantage in meets where teams are fairly close in ability levels. The major disadvantage is that a psychological let-down can occur if a runner is unable to maintain his/her match up. If everyone does their job except one athlete, it may mean defeat for the entire team. This can put a lot of pressure on that one athlete.

Lead Man Out

This is the use of individual strategy when a team has an outstanding runner who is capable of placing first in the meet. The lead runner will concentrate on only winning the race. The rest of the team may use other assigned tactics. The lead man out is effectively used with bunching or matching up by the rest of the team.

Surging

A surge is a planned and substantial pace increase at a predetermined point in a race. The intent of surging is to break away from the rest of the field by creating a gap that the other runners are unwilling or unable to close. Once the gap has been established, the surging runner(s) can settle back into normal pace -- not slower! The great African distance runners have perfected surging, often throwing in multiple surges over the course of a longer race.

Surging is effective because if disrupts the natural rhythm of competitors. Not expecting a sudden pace increase, opponents are forced out of their comfort zones, which forces unprepared runners to cope with added duress. Because of the extra stress, however, surging requires special training.

Fast Starts

The best teams start fast. Starting fast establishes a race position, defines a pack, and immediately tests the guts of the competition. Fit runners use fast starts to separate those who cannot sustain above-threshold running. Their greater fitness lets them recover quicker when the pace eventually slows after the fast start.

To prepare for fast starts we will use long runs and tempo runs to prepare. We will set a faster than normal early pace, and then let the runners settle into their normal rhythm. In repetition workouts, we will have the team do its first three reps faster than pace so that we can run through a lactic state before reaching steady pace.

The Strong Finish

Everyone sprints to the finish line, but a strong finish is an extended drive to the finish that can cover anywhere from 400 to 1000meters. To train for strong finishes, we will mirror the training we do for fast starts. We will always finish steady-pace and temp runs with hard finishes and repetition workouts ALWAYS finish with an all-out effort, before a cool-down.

Hill Cresting

Most runners slow considerably after reaching the top of a hill. Simply maintaining effort over the top of a hill can yield amazing results. We will recover a bit on a downhill anyway, so a slight acceleration upon reaching the top can put a lot of distance on the field. Emphasize this tactic in practice and, like a slingshot, shoot down the hill to catch up or pull away from the competition.

Turn Surges

Runners can use tight turns to your advantage if you accelerate a few steps into each turn. Much like indoor track, the runner will not lose momentum while negotiating the turn. It is an aggressive racing maneuver that keeps the athlete from settling into a comfortable pace.

Blind Spots

Savvy runners learn how to use the course to their advantage. When rounding a clump of trees or bushes, an athlete should use the blind spot to gain distance by raccelerating for a few strides past the turn. The tactic sometimes opens a gap that a rival is unwilling to close. The small physical separation can create a large psychological advantage.

Boxing

Boxing is a tactic employed by two or more runners to stop an opponent from passing until such a point when they can out-distance the athlete to the finish line. The box consists of one athlete running in front of the opponent and another runner to the best passing side of the opponent:

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		X X {{{ O {{	Rough Terrain
Direction of the	run

Another type of two man box is to put two runners in front and split the opponents, not allowing him to break through the gap:

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				O	direction of run

A three-runner box puts an athlete on either side of the opponent and in front of him/her:

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				X X O	direction of run

Of course the box must be legal and if the opponent is capable of outrunning the box, the athlete will probably do so. However, boxing will make it more difficult and tiring. The legal box often results naturally in running conditions and is not planned, but should be recognizable to the runner when it presents itself. The boxers, incidentally, do not have to be teammates. The box can be formed the runners from competing schools against a third runner from another squad. The box will make it as difficult as possible for the opponent. The boxers must face the challenges, change of pace, and fight off the man trying to pass. this is where the term "necessary roughness" comes from. Their position in the box may also frequently change as the course changes.

Boxing is most important against a strong opponent or if the finishing places will determine the meet. The boxers must decide when to break and make the all-out effort to the finish line. Even if the box only lasts ten seconds, it may slow the opponent long enough to allow the leaders to get away and he will have to burn a lot of energy to catch up.

We will practice this technique.

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