Baton Rouge Area Runners: Get Ready for Cross Country Season with The Summer Strength Project
May 15, 2026
Summer miles are important, but the runners who stay healthy and improve all season long are usually doing more than just running. Strength, mobility, recovery, and injury prevention all play a huge role in how athletes perform once cross country season starts. That’s exactly why we created the Summer Strength Project.
The Summer Strength Project is an 8-week, PT-led program with 60-minute sessions once per week. Each athlete will train in a small group of just 3 runners, allowing for more personalized coaching, feedback, and attention. The cost is $300 per athlete.
Athletes will start with baseline testing in week 1 and re-test in week 8 to track progress. Weeks 1-2 focus on movement foundations, weeks 3-4 build strength through bigger lifts, weeks 5-6 develop power and elasticity, and weeks 7-8 bring it all together with performance integration so runners can see real improvement before the season begins.
Designed specifically for runners of all ages who want to improve. Middle school and high school cross country athletes and runners in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas like Prairieville, Denham Springs, Gonzales, Central, and Zachary are welcome. Our program helps athletes build the strength and durability needed for a successful season.
The Summer Strength Project is built for runners who want to:
- Stay healthy during summer training
- Improve running efficiency and form
- Build strength without bulking up
- Reduce risk of common running injuries
- Feel stronger late in races
- Prepare for the demands of cross country season
Too often, runners spend the summer only increasing mileage while ignoring the strength and mobility work that helps keep them healthy. That’s when shin splints, tendon pain, tight hips, and overuse injuries start showing up before the first meet even happens. A smart training plan includes more than miles, especially for growing athletes balancing high school training in the Louisiana heat.
At The Stride Shop, our Summer Strength Project focuses on exercises and movement patterns that directly benefit runners. Athletes will work on stability, mobility, core strength, and injury prevention in a way that supports performance on the course. Whether you’re training for your first high school cross country season or looking to take the next step competitively, this program is designed to help runners train smarter and feel more confident heading into the fall.
The work you put in during the summer matters. If you’re a runner in Baton Rouge or the surrounding Louisiana area looking to stay consistent, healthy, and strong this offseason, now is the time to join the Summer Strength Project. Fill out the form and let us know you're interested!