Former D1 Runners w/Kids: My 7th Grader doesn't seem to "have it"

He's too young to tell at this point. There are countless examples of kids who look very mediocre in middle school or even high school, but end up being very competitive eventually. Then there are also many examples of kids who look like phenoms in middle school and never really get much faster in high school.

Either way, don't worry about it. Maybe he'll be a good runner, maybe he won't. It's understandable that you want him to be a runner because it's something you love. But let the kid find his own way.

on point: i grew up with a neighbor kid who was both small, and a late-bloomer in distance running. He was barely able to keep pace as Frosh in HS, but became top-20 in state XC by Jr year. So, in principle, it's not all over by 7th grade. Male physiology changes so much in the 5 years after puberty, it's hard to make strong predictions at 14. (Note: My state was a small one, so top20 doesn't mean THat much, and my buddy didn't end up running in college, even at his D3 school). BTW: smaller is generally better, Solinsky nothwithstanding.

more off point: I'd echo the bigpicture comments of others. But, i'd add the shared-enjoyment of a sport aspect. I was a lousy HS runner, but it was enough to give me an inside appreciation of the sport, and the historic resurgence of american running that's been occurring lately.

I barely had the talent to be the 5 runner on the HS XC team, as a senior. Mile PR 4:29, and i dove at the line. I did not have the talent to run in college, but I got a lot out of running even if i didn't win much outright (one track race, ever). I competed, worked on personal bests, learned a lot about my limits, and other people. And, the aerobic conditioning subserved other sports (Ultimate; figures i'd have talent at a non-scholarship sport) and activities (climbing, hiking). And now, like so many things i love in life (music, film, literature...) i'm a passionate fan of something i can't do clairvoyantly well.

I have a 10 year-old son. He's got lungs. I'm not so sure about the legs or the head, yet. Nothing in this world would give me greater pleasure that watching him win a race, or make the game-winning basket, or whatever. I'm in love with my son, and i'm a competitive guy, and i wanted to win when i was his age, and i'm not gonna be apologetic for wanting him to get that experience. But, realistically, the chances aren't that high, so i'll encourage him to try hard, and let him know how bad his old man sucked at a lot of things at his age, but that sometimes they were a lot of fun to do anyway. And in the Spring I'll get some tickets and ask if he wants to go down to Eugene and watch some really fast dudes race their asses off, and the crowd will go nuts as they come off Bowerman corner and he'll remember it, like it was yesterday, forever.

I started out freshman year with a 20:30 5k PR at 4'10'' 80 pounds and 2 years later at 5'8'' 115 I ran 17:33 on the same course and now senior year I am breaking 17:00 in workouts it is entirely possible to improve greatly in high school.

You are kidding right? Please say you are joking.

STOP LIVING THROUGH YOUR CHILD. THAT IS GROTESQUE.

I feel so sorry for your kid. Hopefully he'll get over it and forgive you.

you all seem to take it on faith that putting pressure on a kid is a bad thing. in the money sports, coaches (and parents) put a huge amount of pressure on the kids from an early age. in education, a lot of asian parents put huge amounts of pressure on their kids, and it works. you don't think that our weaklings can handle it even at the high school level? do you also put zero pressure on them to do their homework?

My daughter seemed to get the passion and talent; my son is not much of an athlete, at least not yet, and he doesn't seem that interested.

My inspiration is my older brother, always a better athlete than me, HS star, played ball in college, etc. His son loves to play ball but is not that great and he just laughs it off. When I saw him do that, I realized who cares.

I demand participation and effort, but they have to do it their own way.

is he running on concrete?

HS Dad wrote:

My son is in 11th grade. As a freshman he ran 5:27 for the mile.

That's more to the talented side of the scale actually.

kick his slow ass to the curb and adopt a kid with talent!!

I was 87 pounds at age 12 in 7th grade, ran 4:57 for the 1600. When I was a senior in high school I was 5' 6'' and 130 lbs; I ran 4:21 and 9:26. By the time I finished up running D1 I was still 5'6'' 124 lbs and ran 4:06 for the mile and 13:58 for 5k.

No matter your size, everyone has to mature at their own rate. Let your son figure out if he enjoys running, time will tell whether or not he "has it", either way it sounds like he is going to be great at whatever he decides to do considering his work ethic and attitude.

I went from running 28 seconds in the 200 and somewhere around like 66 seconds in the 400 as a Sophmore in HS. The next year, I worked as a caddy all summer, which I had done for years, and grew a few inches and lost a bit of a doritos stomach. As a Junior, I ran 53 seconds for the 400 and 4:39 for the mile. I just ran a lot over that summer and did alot of physical activity. I went to D1 college to run and in college ran 1:52 for the 800 and 4:09 for the mile. Sucked in longer distances however, and currently train full time and work full time in Boston. Have run 3:48 for 1500 meters (4:06 mile) and 1:51 for the steeple and getting much better over longer distances now. I sucked when I was in M.S. and early HS but I am extremely competitive and train hard and now have run pretty well.

Give them some time and let them get tough.

Meant to say 1:51 for the 800 and now training for the steeple, planning on running in the 8:40's this year

Running is such a small slice of the possibilities. Good grief.

Running is a difficult, injury laden sport.

I ran sub 14:00. what does it mean a few years after you retire. I met great people, travelled etc.. but I would have without running also

Coach Owl Birdo wrote:

HS Dad wrote:

My son is in 11th grade. As a freshman he ran 5:27 for the mile.

That's more to the talented side of the scale actually.

Talented side is sub-5 as a freshman in track after a XC season, with no prior running background.

"The best thing I ever did for my kid was accept the fact that for the most part, he's pretty average."

- some columnist I don't remember

Not to say he will be as good as you expect/hope, but I would just say be patient. Stating the obvious, but boys do a lot of maturing from middle school to high school or even just during high school. I went from 10:47 3200 as a freshman to 9:47 as a sophomore. There was no more or better training and no smarter/better racing. All purely a physical thing.

Andy Wheating end of discussion

I going to say you should probably get the f*** over yourself, dad. The kid's life isn't about you and your dreams of him following in your footsteps. If he's not talented enough at 14, it'll be ok. Just let him have fun. In the big picture being talented at running isn't really worth a damn. Running and competing is just fun. Sounds like someone has some unresolved issues with their running career and desires to live vicariously through their kid. That D1 running career didn't pan out the way you wanted it to?

If this thread were titled "former d1 all American" I would say you have all the right to be surprised and/or disappointed. Seeing as this is not the case, you should not be surprised. You were an above average runner who has not passed on the 'gift'. Join the club hoss, most former d1 runners children fail to make the grade. Help him embrace what he is talented in and go from their. The world does not end if you are not an excellent runner, as Kenny Powers said " I play real sports I'm not trying to be the best at exercising. Get over yourself or your next kid might develop autism.