14 y/o girl runs 1:16 half-marathon

OnceAChampion wrote:

YMCA wrote:

I’d vote for too young because she’s devoting about two hours a day (prep, run, shower) to middle school running. There are few tangible rewards and no advantage gained for this heavy training g.

Based on all of the young phenoms that have come before her we can conclude that no long term competitive advantage gained from prepubescent training. There may be no harm but also there is no advantage.

Oh yeah because middle schoolers have such busy lives. She needs to be studying and practicing her Chinese and maximizing her odds of getting into Stanford.

If a middle schooler was playing video games 5 hours a day it wouldn't be a news story. But running 2 hours a day and you need to question the "tangible rewards" for it.

If she runs 60 mile weeks, she’s clearly not running for 2 hours a day. Your comparison lacks credibility.

This is why she needs a coach. Even if she really wants to run 60 mpw someone should step in and tell her not to.

YOLO MF!!!! Seriously though, as the old proverb goes, don't put off what you can today for tomorrow. You never know what the future may hold, so why not give it a 110%?

There have been MANY 14 year olds on this planet that enjoy/have enjoyed running at this level and higher. I ran with an entire club of 13=15 year olds who did more mileage than that and we all had a blast. Remember Brad Hudson? Totally self-motivated - running like 100+ miles/week at age 13-15. No one could hold him back. The kid loved running more than anything. He had an outstanding H.S. career, and although probably didn't reach his full potential as an adult, still managed to put up some extremely respectable times (2:13 marathon). How much better he could have been, we'll never know. Maybe not at all, maybe a sub 2:10 guy.

YMCA wrote:

pr100 wrote:

Why is it "too young"?

I’d vote for too young because she’s devoting about two hours a day (prep, run, shower) to middle school running. There are few tangible rewards and no advantage gained for this heavy training g.

Based on all of the young phenoms that have come before her we can conclude that no long term competitive advantage gained from prepubescent training. There may be no harm but also there is no advantage.

Why does everything have to have a reward? Can't she do it because she enjoys it? Perhaps she has no interest in a professional running "career." She is 14, after all. She might decide to take up fencing at 18, who knows?

Would it better if she devoted two hours a day to sitting around on her phone or watching youtube? Kids are totally babied and underworked now and should be encouraged to be as active as possible.

10/10

This girl just proves how much pros are slacking in recent years. She is in the top 15 fastest half marathon times run by an American women in the last 2 years. Fail.

I love people (sarcasm) that comment on what a 14 year old girl should be doing that have never coached a 14 year old girl.

TrackCoach wrote:

well actually wrote:

Ever heard of Jordan Hasay?

Jordan:

1. Didn't run nearly as much mileage.

2. In addition to running played soccer and swam.

3. Would never run a half marathon.

4. Jordan was significantly faster at the distances that matter like the 1500 and 3000m,

Track Coach:

There are a lot of teenagers on the Boards who are against running other than for a school team, coached by a school-paid coach. Funny enough, there are middle-aged opposes to this too, none more adamant and vocal then you. Your opinion is fine, and of course your livelihood depends on at least a few kids thinking the school program is worthwhile. Combine the actual need for these programs to exist and be funded with the notion that you genuinely feel you're doing something good for these kids, and it's hard to blame you for that stance. By the way, it comes through on a lot of threads: either they are on your team being coached by you, or they are wrong.

About Hasay, though.

1. That's right, never ran enough to capitalize on whatever genetic talents she does have. Runs that much now, but didn't come close through early 20s.

2. Increased risk of injury by piling on more lower-body stress with sudden starts, stops, and lateral movements by playing soccer.

3. Indeed, did not run events at which she could be competitive at the highest level. This does not include 10km in her case. Not only is her 5km PR slower than the notoriously slow-twitch Desi Linden, she was lapped in the last one I saw her run.

4. "The distances that matter" are only half and full marathon in her case. (See #3). Can she qualify for a national team in anything else? Maybe XC. Certainly not the distances you suggest "matter". By the way, the fact that her PRs for mid-D track events at age 18 are faster than a 14yo who may not have access to races held over those distances (I ran 10km at 14 and races open to the public at 1500 didn't seem to exist then or now) is unremarkable. I certainly would hope Hasay, who ran tons of those events, could beat someone 4 years younger at an event unfamiliar to her competitor.

Did you actually read the article? She has coaches. She is a member of BTC Youth Club, and one of her coaches is Elliot Heath. (Ever heard of him?) And BTC's coaches approved her 60mpw training plan. They also stopped her from running a marathon, although she wanted to.

She also does other activities like wall climbing, swimming, spin bike and basketball. At least according to the article.

Ikigai wrote:

Why does everything have to have a reward? Can't she do it because she enjoys it? Perhaps she has no interest in a professional running "career." She is 14, after all. She might decide to take up fencing at 18, who knows?

Would it better if she devoted two hours a day to sitting around on her phone or watching youtube? Kids are totally babied and underworked now and should be encouraged to be as active as possible.

I’ll concede this point and agree. If she just wants to max our as a middle school runner then why not. I have no problem with this.

My 15 year old son is training for the single age half record. 75-85 miles per week. 12k at pace last week.

Planning for November attempt.

Update on Kate Peters: finished 9th at NXN, 25 seconds behind Tuohy in 17:43.66. Guess she met her top 10 goal. Wow!

if she loves to run far why not let her?