Distance Coaching

Train smarter.
Race faster.
Run longer.

Personalized distance coaching rooted in the science of running. Built on proven methodologies used by the world's best coaches and delivered with direct, one-on-one attention.

Coaching frameworks
Jack Daniels VDOTNorwegian MethodPolarized TrainingLydiard Periodization80/20 Running
Jay Shanahan racing at Saint Joseph's University

Racing for

Saint Joseph's University · NCAA Division I
The Science

Coaching built on
frameworks that work.

Great distance coaching is not guesswork. Every plan at Crimson Mile is grounded in decades of peer-reviewed exercise science and refined through the methodologies proven at the highest levels of the sport. Your training will have a reason behind every workout.

Training paces derived from your current race performances using Dr. Jack Daniels' VDOT methodology. Easy, threshold, interval, and repetition paces are calibrated precisely to your fitness so every workout delivers maximum benefit at minimum risk of overtraining.

Borrowed from the training systems behind Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Norway's world-class distance runners. High volume, lactate-controlled threshold work designed to build an enormous aerobic engine without accumulating excessive fatigue.

Roughly 80 percent of volume at genuinely easy effort, with high-quality intensity sessions reserved for the remaining 20 percent. Research consistently shows this distribution produces better outcomes than moderate-intensity training for endurance athletes.

Arthur Lydiard's macro-periodization model structures training in distinct phases — aerobic base, anaerobic sharpening, and peaking — ensuring you arrive at goal races at the right time having done the right work in the right order.

Systematically increasing training stress over time while building in recovery weeks to allow adaptation. The result is consistent long-term improvement without the injury cycles that derail most self-coached runners.

Every training block is built backward from your goal race. Tune-up races, taper protocols, and sharpening workouts are planned in advance so your body peaks at exactly the right moment, not two weeks before or after.

Saint Joseph's cross country championship race
Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships · Saint Joseph's University
What You Get

Everything you need to race your best.

01
📅
Personalized Training Plans

Fully customized training built around your current fitness, goal race, and weekly schedule. Grounded in VDOT science, Norwegian threshold principles, and Lydiard periodization. Every workout has a purpose.

02
🏁
Race Schedule Planning

Strategic race selection and periodization built into your training calendar from day one. Know exactly when to tune up, when to peak, and how to arrive at your goal race sharp and ready.

03
💬
One-on-One Messaging

Direct communication with your coach throughout your entire training block. Ask questions, report how workouts feel, and get real feedback from someone who has competed at the collegiate level.

The Process

Simple from day one.

1
Book a Free Call

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation. Tell me about your goals and where you are in your training right now.

2
Get Your Plan

Receive a fully built training plan with races planned inside, synced to your Garmin, Coros, or Apple Watch.

3
Train and Log

Complete workouts, log your data, and message your coach directly. Your plan adjusts in real time as you improve.

4
Race Your Best

Arrive at your goal race sharp, confident, and peaking at the right moment with a coach in your corner.

Free Consultation

Book your free
15-minute call.

Not sure if coaching is right for you? Start with a free 15-minute call. No commitment, no pressure. Just a real conversation about your goals and how Crimson Mile can help you get there.

Responses within one business day. All inquiries are confidential.

Thanks for reaching out!
I'll be in touch within one business day to schedule your free 15-minute call.

Jay Shanahan
Meet the Coach

Jay Shanahan.

Former NCAA Division I distance runner at Saint Joseph's University. USATF Level 1 certified coach. Built Crimson Mile to make elite-level, science-based coaching accessible to every runner who is serious about getting better.

Background

A runner who has
been where you want to go.

I'm Jay Shanahan. I competed as a distance runner at Saint Joseph's University in the NCAA's Atlantic 10 Conference, where I trained under Division I coaching staff and developed the technical foundation that informs every plan I write today.

I've spent years studying the science behind the world's most effective training systems, from Jack Daniels' VDOT methodology to the Norwegian double threshold approach that has produced some of the greatest distance runners of this generation. I built Crimson Mile to bring that level of thinking to athletes who don't have access to a college coaching staff.

I work with a small number of athletes at a time to make sure every athlete gets real, individualized attention. Not a template. Not a generic plan. Coaching that actually responds to how you are feeling and what your data is showing.

Saint Joseph's UniversityNCAA Division I Distance Runner · Atlantic 10 Conference
USATF Level 1 Certified CoachUSA Track & Field Coaching Certification
College Recruiting Experience1.5+ Years with NCSA · Athlete Development & Placement
Personal Records

Times set at the
Division I level.

3,000 Meters
8:28
Saint Joseph's University
5,000 Meters
14:33
Saint Joseph's University
8K Cross Country
24:19
Saint Joseph's University