Skinny Runner: What to do????

Kids tend to add inches before they add pounds (aside from obese kids).

I would just make sure he increases his energy intake; snacking is good, but make it healthy stuff.

If you think that he needs more strength, then some lifting might help. Maybe you could also try some hurdle drills to increase his ability to generate power through a greater range of motion. I don't know the first thing about hurdling, but they always struck me as being very powerful.

thanks for the help, ill try to get him snacking more and hurdles sound good, easy to do pre-post run. any good foods he can eat during the day before practice at three that wont make him feel it during a workout? And for weights, any thoughts? besides leg curls and extensions, how do people feel about squats/cleans/lunges w/weights?

WEEKLY HILL REPEATS!!!

SHORT, STEEP HILL. ALL OUT.

hills and plyometrics

Is he a basketball player? I had a teammate who was similar to this kid, except maybe a few inches taller. It wasn't until his senior year that he really filled out and was a successful runner, but I think it was mainly due to his conditioning in basketball. He was also a jumper in track. I think the plyos really helped him.

not a basketball player, just wicked tall. he has a very athletic family, as it would have it his older brother was the swimmer in that Verizon commercial during the Olympics with Phelps, he was the guy with one bar of service over his head. Anyway, thanks for the help yall, ill bring the info to this guy

Hills, my friend, hills. If you don't already have a hill phase or circuit, institute one and get this kid on it. You ideally want him to strengthen his body and form through running related motions. Stay away from "weight gain" solutions and let him eat and grow naturally. There are worse things than being granted a Culpepper/Nick Rogers type physique. Good luck.

weightgain wrote:

And for weights, any thoughts? besides leg curls and extensions, how do people feel about squats/cleans/lunges w/weights?

Be careful not to just focus on lower body. Besides leg curls and extensions, I'd add squats, lunges, and leg and calf presses...also, try doing some bench pressing and some tricep pulldowns, and don't forget to start some sort of core-strengthening routine.

"hasnt grown into his body yet" you said it buddy, thats pretty much your answer. To be honest there isnt really a short term solution, sure a few form drills, strength work might help but will have limited success untill he has finished growing. There was a "bamby" type runner training with my team for a while with similar issues..untill he grew into his body and now he is awsome at anyhting from 8-3k. Give it time...and once he has finished developing reassess the situation