MILE TIME getting faster Dear Coach Ed, Hi, my name is Rachel. I'm almost thirteen and enjoy running. I have a 6:50 mile that I'm trying to lower. I'm also trying to improve on long distance. Any hints? Thanks, Rachel Dear Rachel, That's a good mile time. The mile is my favorite too. This might seem simple but the best way to improve on your mile time and to improve on long distance is to run more. Set up a running schedule where you are running about 4 days a week. If you are currently running 5 miles a week add 1 mile week to one day until you are doing a 3 mile run at least once a week. A good simple speed work session would be run for 8 minutes at an easy pace run fast and controlled for 45 seconds the back to easy for 45 seconds. Repeat that 6 times and end with an easy 5 to 8 minute run. Do that once a week and watch your time come down. For more advice on the mile check out my Coach Ed column and Coach Mick's on this Web site. Good luck, Coach Ed Ed Poirier, "Coach Ed", recently was invited by the United States Olympic committee to attend a workshop and training seminar at the Olympic training center in California. Feel free to email the kid's editor at goodrow@infi.net with comments on this column.