13yr old runs 33:50 for 10k

Justin ran 37:01 last year as a 13-yr-old and 36:09 as a 12-yr-old. He doesn't do a ton of miles and in my opinion, has run in moderation, as you say. I have known him since he first ran for me in JO's as a 5-year-old and his progression has been steady...not meteoric. He's got a lot of good running ahead of him. BTW, he was no. 1 guy at the next meet.

RobC@law wrote:

Seb Coe's father has a training book. He cites studies in Europe that training for running at a young age doesn't help in the long run. .

No, it doesn't. Examples like that crazy Garritson Dad basically do it as a stunt - for attention. and it worked. Lots of press even though (I think)none of the kids turned out especially talented. They all go on and on about what a family bonding experience it was but as a parent you run a real risk of major disfunction (and lifetime physical ruin)if you push kids like that that early.

He looks like he's heel striking with a locked knee like he's trying to blow a hole into the ground. So look for his knees to get blown out.

Running USA . Com. Has single age records...a lot of fast teen agers in the 80 's.....let the kids run and have fun....who says that by being conservative now will make them world class later....life happens. Run now

He should focus on running. Soccer is a dead end for kids like him. The best thing about American Distance running is you can get a scholarship, and even make six figures without being in the top ten. He should also dye his hair blonde.

Omaha Youth Track Expert wrote:

We had another kid in the area, Justin Liedke . . . He is a freshman running varsity, but I just think these kids are doing too much too soon. Everybody a few years ago was saying Liedke was the future of Nebraska distance running and it appears that isn't the case.

I don't know why you are judging so soon. He ran 17:04 in his first race as a Freshman. Certainly nothing to sneeze at. Without seeing the race, and seeing the winner ran 15:25 and Justin was the fastest guy on his own team, I would imagine he doesn't really have a solid team mentor, or a good feel yet for how to run a high school cross country race. I am guessing he went out with the lead pack, and suffered the consequences, but that's just a guess.

Here's an article about a 13 year old who run 33.29 for 10km in Canberra, Australia. These kids are flying!! Let's see how good they are in 10-15 years.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/a-junior-world-record-20120909-25mlc.html

I would say that genetics played a huge part in how the Garritson's performed at such a young age. Obviously as they aged, their bodies changed and probably weren't adapted at running the times they did in their childhood. I do believe that a couple ran in college with limited success. If they are still running today, I'm glad to see it as a healthy lifestyle. Growing up I played lots of baseball and I loved it more than running. Over the summer when I was in college, I would go home and coach Little League. I chose the 3-4 graders to coach(intro). This is when they actually pitched. Since it was the beginner's league, I felt it was important to learn every position. During the games, I would rotate everybody around each inning. I didn't care if we won or lost, it was the teaching that was important to me. I fought parent's that thought their son should just be a pitcher or first basemen. Really? I had parents show up at every practice telling me how the other children didn't measure up to theirs. Blah..Blah..Blah. One parent even went the length to tell the head of the Park & Rec that they didn't like me or my style of coaching and wanted me fired. By the time that kid hit high school, he didn't play baseball anymore. "Crazy" parents exist in all sports, not just running.

I think these AZ state records are impressive as well:

8 yrs old

37:58 10K

Jarrod Garritson

02/28/1987 Continental Homes

11 yrs old

33:03 10K

James Garritson

02/28/1987 Continental Homes

last weekend i have seen a 13 yr old who run a great 35:20. nevertheless, it was terrible to watch for everybody. the boy looks like 8 yr old, and obviously his father is pushing him like mad to fulfill what he never could.

poor boy, depleted a few years later.

trackcoachg wrote:

He does hold the national record for his age group at 3000m on the track and I would imagine this would have to be very close to the national age group record for 10k road race but they just keep under 19 records instead of specific age groups for road racing.

They actually do keep specific age group records for road racing, but I can't find them (they used to be on USATF). I know a few record-holders.

been fun to keep an eye on this the past few years... now the #2 ranked HS kid in the country and just committed to Wisconsin

trackcoachg wrote:

been fun to keep an eye on this the past few years... now the #2 ranked HS kid in the country and just committed to Wisconsin

The linked articles are all dead. Who is this?

Seth Hirsch I think.

Yes, Hirsch, had a pretty impressive XC season. Will be interesting to see what he does through nationals and how he transitions to the track this spring - always been better over the longer distances and the XC course than on the oval.

That kid ran 9:15 outdoors in 2016 for 3200, along with 4:21 mile, but he already had run 9:22 for 3200 two years earlier, and high 4:20s. He's also run 14:55 5000m. So, he's improving a little bit each year. Sounds like his xc season might be very solid right now, but I didn't find anything on that.

Early bloomers rarely are around when it counts (age 18+) so who cares what he runs at age 13.

If he is being coached to run high mileage the coach and parents need to get a little perspective here.

Write his name down and check back in 5 years. He'll be a nobody.

Not trying to be an a-ole here but the numbers and odd's speak for themselves

Run Doctor wrote:

Early bloomers rarely are around when it counts (age 18+) so who cares what he runs at age 13.

If he is being coached to run high mileage the coach and parents need to get a little perspective here.

Write his name down and check back in 5 years. He'll be a nobody.

Not trying to be an a-ole here but the numbers and odd's speak for themselves

This post is Gold. The original post is 4 years old.

Run Doctor wrote:

Early bloomers rarely are around when it counts (age 18+) so who cares what he runs at age 13.

If he is being coached to run high mileage the coach and parents need to get a little perspective here.

Write his name down and check back in 5 years. He'll be a nobody.

Not trying to be an a-ole here but the numbers and odd's speak for themselves

Ever heard of Jordan Hasay and Galen Rupp?