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Lesson 2:
Culture First: The Tsunami Effect in Coaching
Success in distance running programs doesn’t happen overnight—it builds like a tsunami, starting deep beneath the surface before making a visible impact. Establishing a strong culture of training, accountability, and athlete support is the foundation for long-term success. Championship programs prioritize personal attention for all athletes, high expectations, and a process-over-outcome mindset. Coaches who foster mentorship, autonomy, and team-based rituals create an environment where success naturally follows.
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Dr. Derek Leininger’s Training Distance Runners course offers a deep dive into the key principles of coaching endurance athletes, covering topics such as Energy System Development, Race Pacing Strategies, and Periodization for Distance Runners. He emphasizes the importance of balancing Aerobic and Anaerobic Training, managing training loads effectively, and ensuring that workouts align with the...