Consistency Is Key: 15 Ways to Unlock Your Potential As a High School Runner

by Jay Johnson

How can high school athletes unlock their potential and become excellent runners? In Consistency Is Key, nationally known coach Jay Johnson helps high school runners understand how to realize their potential and race fast. Written specifically for high schoolers-and drawing on Johnson's twenty years of experience working with high school, collegiate, and professional runners-Consistency Is Key is a simple yet impactful book for any athlete who wants to improve. Consistency Is Key focuses on the fundamentals of running, which can be applied to both cross country and track and field training. Johnson explains why high school runners need to build their aerobic engines, while also doing the strengthening exercises necessary to create a strong chassis. He makes the case that "revving the engine" most days is necessary if a high school runner is going to race to his or her potential. It's crucial that high school runners realize there are dozens of ways to structure an effective training program, provided the fundamentals are always in place. Unlike most running books that go into lengthy detail about exercises physiology, Consistency Is Key offers a foundational understanding of key concepts, while giving athletes actionable items to improve. And it includes case studies of eight exceptional programs that show how these fundamentals can be put to work. A concise book, Consistency Is Key will help any high schooler better understand what it takes to be an excellent runner.

Genres: Self Help

188 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Jay Johnson most recent work is a novella, The Soul's Tariff, about the painter Tintoretto and 16th century Venice on the cusp of war with the Ottoman empire to the east.

His novel Gold Diggers, a slipstream urban fantasy set in Las Vegas, follows dwarves and elves living at the fringes of society. It was reviewed favorably by Kirkus Reviews: "...maintain(s) a persistent sense of mystery. Johnson grounds his story by showing the peculiar beings from the perspectives of the humans..." "Johnson, not one to let his narrative lull, boosts his story with riveting subplots involving a conspiracy, a betrayal and a disappearing corpse." "... its creativeness and exuberance are unquestionable."

His first novel History of the Unnameables, based on a novella originally published by Duct Tape Press in the late '90s under the title King of Siam, was one of the first works of fiction to address fears of cyberterrorism. He began the story after talking to a number of friends working in blackworks, mainly conflicted science and math academics, who were aware of the problem but were not being listened to.

Invisible City was orphaned by a major publisher but has found new life in ebooks formats. It adds the murky world of bioethics and the porous nature of the new digital reality to the world of spying.

As a filmmaker (under his given name Jay Wright) he was included at the Mexican National Museum of Art's (MUNAL) Biennial of Poetry and Video in 2002. His work has appeared at Cannes, and at other film festivals where the films have won numerous awards. His films and videos have also played internationally at galleries and exhibitions. He has also been nominated for a Guggenheim.

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical, healthy, proven and long-term perspective on being a runner. Very relevant and applicable for the middle school cross country team I’m coaching.

[Sarah Boselovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book to read before the start of high school cross country season. Nothing earth shattering or new, but good reminders to help lead the girls to a successful season.

[Jeb Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great running tips for the high school runner. Author Jay Johnson does a solid job explaining the keys to being a successful runner. His work is most important because he explains the various philosophies without bias.

[Shane Skelcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid advice for young athletes. I read this as a coach hoping it would be suitable to assign my athletes and I’m happy to report that it is! Quick read that’s very accessible. I think this is the perfect fit for my program. Now, can anyone tell me the secret to get them to read??

[Matthew West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resource for all high school cross country and track athletes and coaches. Jay lays out a simple recipe to follow, and backs it up with data and testimonials from fellow coaches. I plan on handing this book out to my track athletes this spring.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prefect execution. This book does a great job of delivering information in a manner high school athletes can comprehend. Johnson does the high school distance scene a great service by publishing this.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource- keep in mind for XC kids for a summer read, or parents hoping to learn more about the sport in general.

[Benjamin D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid, easy, intuitive read. As a cross country coach, I’m planning to have my runners read portions of this book as we head into the season this year.

[hux · Rating 5 out of 5]

very cool

[Alecia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
Bought this for my son but decided to read it first. Geared more toward the distance runner, this book covers what and how to train that is easy to understand for new and experienced runners. It also covers a few important process goals (sleep, nutrition, rest/recovery). I wish it had more on the mental side of the sport (it does briefly mention visualization). Overall, this would be a helpful book for HS team captains/leaders and coaches to read together.