by Larry Eder
This is the sixth day of the first week of Summer Mileage, this is about your future.
Jemma Reekie is one of the toughest athletes that I have ever met.
There, I have said it.
Longtime training partner with Laura Muir, Jemma shocked some with her 800m indoor performances.
She has competed in two Olympic Games (4th in 2020, 1:56.90), and made semifinals in 2024.
Jemma has won the famed Fifth Avenue Mile in 2021 and 2023.
She shook many up winning the 800m and 1,500m at the 2019 European U23, something seldom done.
In 2020, in eight days, Jemma Reekie sets British records at 800m indoors, mile indoors and 1,500 m indoors.
In 2024, at the London DL, Jemma Reekie ran 1:55.64, her current PB.
Over the years, she endured injuries, sickness, incredibly tough competition, changing coaches, all of the stuff that many of us do not consider, that are part of the athletes’ day, that have many athletes with less drive giving up. Jemma Reekie is just plain focused.
Jemma Reekie came through cross country, indoor track and track in Scottish Athletics. She is always quite close,
having achieved the silver at the 800m indoors at the World Indoors in 2024. A tough athletes, wonderful interview
and long time competitor at NIKE Pre. Watch for Jemma Reekie this season!
Jemma Reekie competes for NIKE.
The road to 2025 Cross country is just beginning
Time to build some mileage for fall cross country!
Today is July 12 , 2025
Week One, Day six, Summer Mileage.
Saturday, warm up, 50 minute run, 15 minutes up hill and 15 minutes rolling, sweat today, cooldown
Hydrate and stretch. Always hydrate.
Some thoughts on summer mileage program.
Have you considered cross country?
Cross Country is offered in over 16,500 high schools and many junior high schools. It normally goes from mid-August to November for most. To prepare for cross country, we at RunBlogRun encourage you and your 550,000 closest friends who like the 400m to 5,000m, consider cross country!
It is a great way to stay in shape and it builds your fitness so that you are ready for the challenges of cross country.
What motivated Steve Prefontaine in the summer between his sophomore and junior year?
Was it the knowledge that he had not done his very best in track and field? Perhaps, he had not taken his commitment as serious as he thought he should?
When you have not achieved what you expected, how do you respond? Are you being called to put in some more effort? Many of us have had those challenges, and Summer mileage is a great program to get one self focused.
Think about five things you can do better for fall cross country, write them on a post card, and tape it to a place in your room where you will see it at least once a day!
Remember to drink 8 glasses of water, 12 ounces each a day!
When Pre was in high school, after he failed to make his State track meet as a sophomore, he became obsessed with daily training. These were not just easy runs, they were bone-churning, gut-wrenching efforts focused to make him unbeatable. In his junior year of cross country, Pre saw that his summer of running made a huge difference.
Do you want to be a better cross country runner than you were in the past? Focus and follow our training. It is all about the consistency.
Other book suggestions include Self Made Olympian by Ron Daws, A Clean Pair of Heels by Murray Halberg, and Pre! by Tom Jordan.
The Nike Pegasus PLUS is a great entry shoe for high school cross country. You should consider it, and learn more about it at nike.com. It is light, cushioned, a good summer mileage shoe. If you need a little more cushioning, try the Vomero 18.
