EP13: How a State Champion Distance Coach Builds Complete Athletes with Andy Derks

What does it really take to build a championship distance program — and are miles enough?

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Dirks, head cross country coach at Plainfield North, fresh off a state championship, to break down how he develops complete athletes, not just distance runners.

We explore the parallels between distance training and speed development, including:

• Why sprinting still matters for distance athletes
• How strength training fits into a championship XC program
• Moving beyond “just logging miles”
• Developing athleticism that carries over to track, sprinting, and long-term performance
• Building resilient, adaptable athletes at the high school level

This conversation challenges traditional distance training models and shows how speed, strength, and smart programming can coexist with high-level endurance performance.

Whether you coach cross country, track & field, sprint athletes, or care about long-term athletic development, this episode is about going beyond miles.

🎧 Topics Covered:

• Cross country training philosophy
• Speed training for distance runners
• Strength training for runners
• Athlete-first vs mileage-first programs
• High school coaching and development