Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 14:02     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
Mom of a D1 college runner here. Have her get fitted for good running shoes and smart wool running socks, and email your upcoming XC high school coach for a summer training program.

In general, she should be running 5 to 6 days a week, with one of those days being a long run. She should be building up to this if she hasn’t been running a lot. But no more than 10% more a week.

She should also be stregnth building/weightlifting and eating right in the meantime.

Frankly, if she’s doing all of this, there’s no need for a private coach.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 10:27     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
I have a junior runner that will be going D1 and her times have improved because of Healthy Baller. She did the performance training and it was great.

I have heard Peak Performance has a similiar program if that is more convenient. I highly recommend this for running.

Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 15:43     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looking for a XC/track program for my 9th grader - or a private coach. She is looking to run in college but right now falls in the D3 times if that helps. She is a hard worker who wants to improve this summer and come into XC seasons strong.


I would be careful about overtraining and overuse injuries like stress fractures. You really want to do core, weights, swimming/cross training in addition to running instead of just focusing on building base miles over the summer, which can also lead to peaking too early or injuries later in the season. It’s also very common for girls’ times to go up or plateau during puberty - as in, a good 8th grade xc season might not translate to footlocker. Your daughter is three years away from talking to college coaches and so much can change in that span of time, so I wouldn’t focus that far out.



OP - my daughter is ending her 9th grade year, but is on the older side (16) so puberty is pretty much over for her, but agree, I don't want to injure her, and am always sure that she doesn't stop her period during training (as that can be a huge risk factor for stress fractures). Great advice though - I do plan to have her XT and lift, just looking for an individual coach once or twice a week maybe to push her a bit with running.


+1. So many parents push sports and seem to take a laisser faire attitude about periods. Like wuttttttttttttt?!!!
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 15:24     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looking for a XC/track program for my 9th grader - or a private coach. She is looking to run in college but right now falls in the D3 times if that helps. She is a hard worker who wants to improve this summer and come into XC seasons strong.


I would be careful about overtraining and overuse injuries like stress fractures. You really want to do core, weights, swimming/cross training in addition to running instead of just focusing on building base miles over the summer, which can also lead to peaking too early or injuries later in the season. It’s also very common for girls’ times to go up or plateau during puberty - as in, a good 8th grade xc season might not translate to footlocker. Your daughter is three years away from talking to college coaches and so much can change in that span of time, so I wouldn’t focus that far out.



OP - my daughter is ending her 9th grade year, but is on the older side (16) so puberty is pretty much over for her, but agree, I don't want to injure her, and am always sure that she doesn't stop her period during training (as that can be a huge risk factor for stress fractures). Great advice though - I do plan to have her XT and lift, just looking for an individual coach once or twice a week maybe to push her a bit with running.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 15:09     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
Summer Distance Training run by Coach Desmond Dunham and the XC / Track team at SJC HS. They switch between a few practice locations during the week. Kids are not just SJC kids, they are from a variety of schools. Great coaches and great group of kids.

https://kidselitesports.com/ua-premier-training/
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 11:55     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
Probably less organized than what you want, but our northern Virginia high school cross country team meets daily to run together (small groups based in their schedules) and tracks their results on Strava.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 11:41     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
Anonymous wrote:Looking for a XC/track program for my 9th grader - or a private coach. She is looking to run in college but right now falls in the D3 times if that helps. She is a hard worker who wants to improve this summer and come into XC seasons strong.


I would be careful about overtraining and overuse injuries like stress fractures. You really want to do core, weights, swimming/cross training in addition to running instead of just focusing on building base miles over the summer, which can also lead to peaking too early or injuries later in the season. It’s also very common for girls’ times to go up or plateau during puberty - as in, a good 8th grade xc season might not translate to footlocker. Your daughter is three years away from talking to college coaches and so much can change in that span of time, so I wouldn’t focus that far out.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2025 23:10     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
There’s a distance program that takes place all over DC through Kids Elite (I think SJC coaches). https://kidselitesports.com/ua-premier-training/

I think Seven Locks offered a summer program last year.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2025 18:52     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
XC elite
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2025 18:48     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
Looking for Fairfax/vienna area
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2025 15:09     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
For NoVA- I would look at spartan chosen or mvp league- they are summer track programs. It seems that a lot of sprinters do these leagues but the mid distance and distance runners also do this.

There is a week long camp for HS students put on my Potomac river running and a lot of the good (well, really good) FCPS runners attend. It is called Capon and is in West Virginia
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2025 13:03     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
Following for NOVA
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2025 12:28     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
Nothing OP, but am looking for something similar and am in DC but have the flexibility to commute, if necessary.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 18:12     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
where are you located?
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2025 17:47     Subject: XC summer program or private coach
Looking for a XC/track program for my 9th grader - or a private coach. She is looking to run in college but right now falls in the D3 times if that helps. She is a hard worker who wants to improve this summer and come into XC seasons strong.