Youth runners running against high school kids

One of the worst things that can happen to a youth runner is to win every race. What happens then is as soon as they enter HS they start getting beat and they lose interest.

Let the young runners race the older kids it's better that they get use to losing and learn to be humble in defeat.

Nothing ends a promising kids career faster than winning all the time.

Oh? wrote:

I'm with you. Honestly, before their sophomore year at the earliest, I never want to put too much weight on any performances they have - and that includes girls. They should be training to be as competitive as they can be as juniors and especially seniors (when they'll have the natural edge due to physical maturity as well as experience), and not worry too much about performances as 6th/7th/8th/9th graders. That is the time to train and prepare their bodies for the future challenges by giving them the tools they'll need to reach their potential.

Totally agree sir.

Begging a winner at age 15 and under accomplishes nothing. Focus on developing strategy, good training habits and enjoy the friendships you develop.

Our club motto is "Enjoy the journey not the awards"

colo sus wrote:

Check this out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29DIJKIWzjw

People make choices for any number of reasons, desperation included.

Based on the irrational responses, it may be the OP doing tabloid-style pushing on his own kid ... maybe, I don't know.

Thanks for posting the video. I enjoyed watching it

Jesus, you people are something else. He isn't saying that. He is saying why have a kid run a race he isn't even suppose to be running just to lose by several minutes? I agree with him. I am sure he can run a group up and get beat by a smaller margin. As far as the age group records comment, at least he is referring to kids who run against his kids. Why does the other poster keep talking about little girls and seems to know every high school girl runner in our country? That is much more weird to me.

If the middle school kids can beat the high school kids, I say let them. It adds to the excitement when that happens. If they can't but wish to try anyways, then who cares, just let them if they want to.

Where are they now? wrote:

Thanks for calling me a jerk! I knew you'd come out and play. This has nothing to do with my kids. It was a simple observation. My kids do lose (not often, but they do) and know how to lose. Running an eighth grader in a top level varsity meet is just dumb. Losing is one thing, coming in like 60th place is just wrong to do to a young kid who works hard. It just either sets him up to push way beyond his threshold or it makes him feel like nothing he's done is working. There's such a size and maturity difference that it isn't worth it in my opinion. But what do I know, I am a jerk. We are big picture people, not trying to be the greatest at 13-14. Thanks again and next time please learn how to read.

Maybe the kid wanted to run with the high schoolers? Not all kids shy away from the competition, or cry if they aren't first.

So, basically, an 8th grader ran 19:00 for 60th place in a cross country race won by a 12th grader in 16:00, with the last 40 kids running 19:01-25:00 or so.

So what? This happens thousands of times every weekend during XC season. It's not worth a second of thought. Every XC race is like this.