Cross Country
Junior Middle Distance and Cross-country
Our Junior Middle Distance Program, designed for athletes aged 10 to 18, offers training in both track and cross-country events. Athletes are placed in groups based on their age and experience. Training focuses on building endurance, improving pacing, and developing race strategies to help athletes improve in both distance running and cross-country challenges.
Holland Sports lead junior coach, Jeff Manson, supports techniques for long-distance running, stamina building, and mental toughness. With a mix of track sessions and cross-country races, athletes will be prepared for both competitive meets and endurance events. The program also provides opportunities to progress to county, regional, and national competitions, helping athletes reach their full potential. Join us to push your endurance, enhance your performance, and achieve your goals in long-distance and cross-country running!
Our Club Timetable shows when sessions take place and who to contact if you are interested in your child joining this group.
Coaching Team: Jeff Manson, Angela Howells and James Williams.
A typical session on the track starts with a sequence of warm-up drills, strides and games aimed at activating the major muscle groups, led by one of Holland Sports’ coaches. This is then followed by a series of repetitions around the track (for instance 5 lots of 600 metres) with a walk recovery between them. The aim is always to complete the session at a consistent pace rather than run the first two or three efforts very quickly and not finish: this takes practice. The session would finish with a very social jog warm-down around the track.
The Under 12 middle distance group will typically run shorter distances than the Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 middle distance group
Please note: Changing facilities are limited so most athletes come ready changed to the track. Toilets are available in the clubhouse.
In exceptional circumstances, athletes in school year 7, may be invited to train with the older Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 age group. Any change would be made after discussion with the athlete, parents and coach, taking into consideration the physical and the emotional development of the athlete.
Pupils in School Year 13 (aged 17/18) would be invited to transition into the Senior Middle and Long Distance squad, led by Neil Danby. Again, this would be after discussion with the athlete, the junior and senior coaching team and parents.
