Do "elite" hs runners have jobs?

Yes, German Fernandez worked at Applebees or maybe TGI Fridays.

I was ranked top ten nationally coming out of high school and had a few part time jobs. I usually had to quit/ got let go due to traveling for meets and practice. Granted I was in a state where sports were not considered gym class and practice was 3:15 to 5:45 everyday. Left little time to work. In the summers I was usually traveling to 2-3 post season meets on weekends.

Luckily I was from a family where I did not need to put in a lot of hours working. Getting a quality scholarship far out weighed what I earned making pizza’s

According to the old dystat forums, he worked at Applebees.

Basically all of the 1960's and before Olympians were "smoke a pack run a mile" workout kind of guys who would casually go to the Olympics after working their 12 hour 6 day a week jobs.

At one time Olympic hopefuls were able to get in a program that found companies that would hire athletes. It was more of a sponsorship so it didn't interfere with their training. 400 meter runner Andrew Valmon was with Kodak. Home Depot put their Olympic hopefuls in ads showing that they actually worked. Several others were able to get in the program.

Elite level for HS is very genetics focused. Lots of top runners got lucky with puberty and don't necessarily train more than their slower peers. They're probably just as likely to have a part time job as any other athlete.

No.

A couple of my athletes I coach at the HS work part time jobs after school. They're not elite. Usually start around 5-6 and end around 9. I don't know how they do it and then go home and do homework. I hate when they ask to skip meets to work weekends specifically during XC when you need them for your team points. I have 1 runner I'd consider "elite" to our state but he does not work since he's only a freshman. The time commitment during the year is pretty hard with homework as well.

Drop the channel

Was a pretty good student 3.97 w AP's and "elite" high school runner (top 10-20 distance recruit in the country). Found that myself and most counterparts might have a side hustle but thought of getting a full ride or big scholarship as the way they were working and making $

Your son was far more than an "ok runner". His times are exceptional, not Ok.

I was top 30 in the US my senior year. I worked at a pizza place 4 years of HS.

I don't care how busy you are with running and school or how rich, the minimum would be 3 hours a week job. There might be a situation volunteering would be good, but I think for most that should be in addition to a job. My daughter works out 7 days a week with several doubles, it is no problem to get in 3-5 hours a week of work. Remember, the ultimate goal as parents is that they're not great runners only or great students only, but great adults and that means being able to be good at multiple things.

She has 40+ years of work ahead of her. She'll figure it out without your "help."

Exactly what I was going to post, if I remember right he famously had to go work a shift right after one of his big achievements, either winning the 1600/3200 double at states or setting his 3200 record, one of those.

The problem is nobody is going to hire a kid for only 3-5 hours per week, unless they are baby/petsitting.

I agree that imparting other things on them besides just school/athletics is an important life lesson, but most “part-time” employers are going to want them to work two six-hour shifts during the week and at least one full time weekend shift. That’s asking a lot of a kid who is training hard, especially if they have to stand in a hot kitchen the entire time and have school.

Again, I don’t have an issue w a 20-hour per week summer job, as long as they are training hard. I surely needed that, not a 45-hour week in the hot sun.

Not sure what qualifies as elite but my kid was top 20 as a freshman and then top 10 at the state xc meet each year, four year state qualifier, won the 3200 (large school division) as a junior, and got a partial D1 scholarship while working at a restaurant on Sundays during the season, and one day a weekend plus a couple nights a week during the off season.

You actually have it opposite. Supporting them having a job is the path for them to figure out independence and the real world. It was her idea to get the job. If you have your attitude keeping her from working, from being independent, from figuring out the world... then you are parenting wrong.

No such thing as an "elite high school runner".