Airey Bros Radio / Ep 280 / Elevating College Running with Coach Jennifer Michael of Western Colorado University

Airey Bros.'s Radio

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Coach Jennifer Michael, the head cross country coach at Western Colorado University. Coach Michael shares her journey from a successful collegiate runner to a renowned coach, with over 60 athletes earning more than 230 All-American honors under her guidance. We dive deep into her training philosophies, the challenges and benefits of coaching at high altitude, and her insights on developing top-tier collegiate runners. This episode is packed with valuable advice for runners, coaches, and sports enthusiasts alike.

Time Stamps

• 0:00 - Introduction: Welcome to Airey Bros Radio with Coach Jennifer Michael
• 0:07 - Training Schedules: Morning vs. afternoon training sessions
• 0:45 - Coach Michael’s Background: 17th season as head coach, accomplishments, and history
• 1:12 - Athlete Achievements: Over 60 athletes, 230+ All-American honors, 19 national championships
• 2:15 - Correction: Western Colorado University name clarification
• 3:01 - Social Media: Program details and social media presence
• 5:04 - Training at Altitude: Benefits and challenges of training at 8,000 feet
• 7:11 - Path to Coaching: Coach Michael’s journey from athlete to coach
• 9:35 - Coaching Steeplechase: Insights into steeplechase training and technique
• 12:01 - Recruitment: Identifying and developing potential steeplechasers
• 16:49 - Training Drills: Off-season training drills and maintaining agility
• 18:10 - Altitude Training: Adjustments for athletes coming from different altitudes
• 22:11 - Recruitment Strategies: Balancing local and out-of-state recruitment
• 27:05 - Training Logs: Importance of maintaining physical training logs
• 29:22 - Double Threshold Training: Discussion on double threshold training
• 30:38 - Gunnison Valley Training: Ideal training conditions in Gunnison Valley
• 36:09 - Skiing and Cross-Training: Encouraging well-rounded athletic development
• 40:11 - Nordic Skiing and Trail Running: Opportunities for cross-training
• 46:30 - Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference: Strength of the conference and competitive landscape
• 50:02 - Advice for Young Athletes: Importance of perseverance and hard work
• 52:07 - East Coast Athletes: Success stories of athletes from the East Coast

Western XC Instagram
Western Colorado University Cross Country