Specific Preparation and Indoor Competition
With Mike McCabe and Brian Doyle
Learn to shift athletes from general to event-specific training, fit indoor meets into your plan, and balance workload, recovery, and ancillary work to keep athletes healthy and improving all season.
Jan 26, 2027
7-10 PM ET
Online
Or save $95 on the full price of all 5 Mesocycle Series workshops when you bundle. Learn more.
Workshop Itinerary
01
Transitioning to Specific Preparation
✓ Determining When to Shift from General to Specific Training
✓ Developing Event-Specific Fitness
✓ Structuring Specific Preparation Mesocycle
✓ Maintaining Long-Term Development While Preparing to Race
✓ Individualizing Training Based on Athlete Needs
02
Integrating Competition into the Training Plan
✓ Determining the Role of Indoor Competition
✓ Planning Race Frequency and Scheduling
✓ Using Meets as Training Opportunities
✓ Training Between Competitions
✓ Evaluating Race Performances to Guide Future Training
03
Balancing Training Variables
✓ Managing Volume and Intensity
✓ Maintaining Aerobic Development During the Racing Season
✓ Progressing Speed and Speed Endurance
✓ Recovery Strategies Between Workouts and Meets
✓ Monitoring Fatigue and Athlete Readiness
04
Integrating Ancillary Training
✓ Adjusting Strength Training During Competition
✓ Plyometrics and Coordination Development
✓ Mobility and Injury Prevention
✓ Technical Running Drills and Mechanics
✓ Integrating Ancillary Components Without Excess Fatigue
05
Looking Ahead: Coaching Through the Indoor Season
✓ Making Adjustments Based on Athlete Progress
✓ Managing Different Event Groups Within One Program
✓ Handling Illness, Injury, and Missed Training
✓ Preparing Athletes for the Transition to Outdoor Track
✓ Avoiding Common Mistakes During the Indoor Season
Meet Your Instructors
Mike McCabe
Coach Mike McCabe has established Union Catholic as one of the top programs in the nation. He has coached dozens of national champions and All-Americans, including national record-setting girls relay teams in the 4x800 and Distance Medley. He coached Sydney McLaughlin to the 2016 Rio Olympics and was named Girls National Coach of the Year by USA Today in 2019, and by the USTFCCCA in 2020.
Union Catholic
Brian Doyle
With more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience, Doyle has helped elevate URI's middle-distance and distance program since arriving in 2021. His tenure has included the program's first New England cross country title since 1952 and nine Atlantic 10 Track & Field team championships. In 2026, URI athletes won Atlantic 10 titles in the 800, 1000, 3K, 5K, and 4x800.
URI
Part of
The Mesocycle Workshop Series
For Middle Distance and Distance Athletes
Expert Guidance for Every Phase of the Season
This workshop is part of a 5-session series designed specifically for distance and middle-distance coaches, offering expert guidance through every phase of the season, from the end of cross country through outdoor track.
From building the foundation to peaking for indoor and outdoor championships, each workshop targets a critical mesocycle in your coaching journey.
Purchase individually or as part of The Mesocycle Series Bundle. If you purchase the bundle, you’ll be able to access any past workshops in the Ascent Track Online Learning Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Contact us.
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The workshop will be recorded for all attendees, to be used for reference purposes. Any Ascent Track Workshop content, including but not limited to audio, video, slides, and any associated materials, is subject to copyright and intellectual property rights held by Ascent Track and its authorized licensors. Any unauthorized distribution, reproduction, or dissemination of workshop content, in violation of this prohibition, may result in legal action being taken against the authorized party.
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We have no plans to do so— though we do plan to run this workshop again for those who cannot make the date.
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No— but there are discounts available. Sign up for our mailing list for promotion codes and to keep up to date with all the latest Ascent Track offerings. Email info@ascenttrackclinics.com about program rates (3+ people).
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The workshop is three hours long, including a Q&A section at the end and a break or two in the middle.