Flavian wrote:
This is my first year coaching and I currently coach a pretty undertrained group of kids. (Most the guys are going to break 19 for 5k for the first time this season.) I have a sophomore who specifically wants to run higher mileage and focus on a road half marathon this spring. I want to be supportive of my athlete's goals but I want to make sure that it's not too early for him to be racing long distances.
Curious if any other coaches have any thoughts or suggestions on this.
1) If this kid wants to SKIP track, then other than offer your opinion on the matter that you wish he wouldn't, there's not much you can do. Incidentally, the ONLY reason you should wish he wouldn't is because he might be helpful to the track team in some way...as a scorer, as a leader, as a positive vibe on the team, etc.
2) A half marathon is NOTHING for a high school sophomore. They should be running a long run each week of 12 miles minimum anyway, so to race a half marathon is NOTHING.
3) If I were you, I would be supportive of the higher mileage (you can mention that a LOT of high school kids run 70-90 MPW, and some even venture beyond that), and I would tailor a higher-mileage program for him but then ask if he would participate in track meets. He's just a sophomore. Let him train through track meets. Let him target the half marathon. Big deal. He will be VERY well-prepared for a 3200 with that increased mileage. I would even submit to him that RACING some 3200s will help his preparation for his target half marathon.
4) Now, if he turns into a high school stud by next CC season who might have some nice college offers coming his way, I would suggest to him (and his parents) that focusing on the track events in the spring is a wise idea. Who knows though, maybe he's not interested in college. I don't know this kid.
Bottom line, guide him, but don't clip his wings.
Good luck.