Scott Christensen's 1600M/3200M Mechanics and Strategy for Developing Efficient Runners

with Scott Christensen,
Stillwater Area High School (MN) Head Girls Track & Field / Cross Country Coach;
Stillwater Area High School (MN) Head Boys Track & Field / Cross Country Coach from 1980 to 2023;
2024 NHSACA Boys Track & Field National Coach of the Year recipient;
5x Minnesota State Boys Track & Field team champions;
5x Minnesota State Boys Cross Country team champions;
3x MN True Team Track & Field State Champions;
1997 USA National Cross Country champions;
has coached 23 individual state track & field and 2 individual state cross country champions;
USATF National Endurance Special Projects Instructor;
USATF National Level 2 Endurance Lead Instructor;
IAAF Level 5 Academy Instructor;
USTFCCCA Endurance Master's Course Instructor;
at Stillwater, has coached Ben Blankenship (2016 USA Olympian, 1500 meters), Luke Watson (1999, 2004, 2006 USA World Cross Country Championship Teams), and Sean Graham (2006 USA National Team);
only coach/program in U.S. high school history to produce four alumni sub 4:00 milers

Scott Christensen, head coach of the track & field and cross country teams at Stillwater Area High School, maintains that the mechanics behind a successful distance runner are developed through the central and peripheral points of aerobic power. The development of aerobic capacity first is crucial in a distance runner, and in this video, Christensen discusses a variety of training tactics that can be used to develop aerobic power.

Anaerobic Training & Lactate Tolerance

Coach Christensen emphasizes that distance runners need to master the anaerobic aspect of training. Lactate tolerance is vital to a distance runner's development and improved race performance. You will learn how to improve the anaerobic speed reserve in your runners, which is an important component in training and racing.

Next, Christensen discusses why distance training capacity and running is event-specific. He passes along power development specific to distance runners. The goal of the coach and athlete is to develop both, as they are tied together to running performance and improved race times.

Core Training

Core strength work that is specific to the running activity is a critical component of Coach Christensen's approach. Training is based on a specific target movement. Core strength training is necessary for any athlete who wants to hold good form and minimize rotation movement.

If one of your training goals is to reduce fatigue in your distance runners, this is a must-have instructional video. Coach Christensen gives a detailed explanation of the program that he uses to develop state championship athletes.

61 minutes. 2020.