Coach ,

Summer is where great cross-country teams are made. According to longtime D1 head coach John Sauerhage, the foundation you lay between now and August will shape everything—from how your athletes feel on race day to how tight-knit your team becomes when it matters most.

Here are 3 key takeaways from Coach Sauerhage’s presentation on how to approach summer training:

Build the Aerobic Engine First

Don’t overcomplicate it early on. Summer is about consistent aerobic mileage—getting your runners used to time on their feet, not chasing fast splits. A strong aerobic base is 90% of the equation for a great 5K.

Progress with Patience

Every runner on your roster is starting from a different place, and that’s okay. Whether you’re coaching a future varsity scorer or someone just learning to finish a 5K, your training plan should meet each athlete where they are. There’s no one-size-fits-all mileage goal. Progress happens through consistent effort, gradual increases, and a plan tailored to your team’s range of ability. The goal isn’t to break them down—it’s to build them up.

Create a Team Culture That Lasts

The best teams don’t just run together—they lead each other. Use summer runs, post-practice drills, and even group cooldowns as moments to build connection and accountability. Assign upperclassmen to lead warmups, organize weekend long runs, or check in on younger athletes. When everyone feels ownership of the process, you don’t just build fitness—you build a team.

Coach Sauerhage’s cross-country coaching style focuses on mastering the fundamentals, and it works! Click on the course below to learn how a 33-time conference coach of the year approaches building up his athletes over the summer months for peak meet performance and team cohesion.  

John Sauerhage - UT-Arlington - XC Training General Prep

Summer isn’t just about logging miles—it’s about laying the foundation for something bigger: endurance, resilience, and belief. Without a strong aerobic base built in the summer months, progress and PRs will be tough to chase down in the fall. The teams that thrive are the ones that buy in early, stay consistent, and hold each other accountable.

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