YoungTalent? wrote:
Like the title says; I have an kid who ran a 38:30 10km. I’m doing my best not to overtrain him and such. But I’m wondering what we can expect from him at high school. Then in college, etc.
To run this time so young, would you say there’s some talent involved?
Expect them to play soccer. Who knows what they will run. Just let the kid have fun. Why are you training him at all?
ex-runner wrote:
You can expect a lifetime of parental and coach pressure to achieve his 'potential' followed ultimately by disappointment, over training and quitting the sport.
Exactly!
I coached a kid in middle school who ran a similar time at a similar age. He never lost a middle school race. He was just Okay in HS. He was a varsity runner for a state championship team, but never the top guy, he was frequently beaten by teammates who couldn't run with him in middle school. He didn't break 16 until his last meet of his senior year.
Ended up getting an academic scholarship to a big school, I don't know if he's still running.
Your kid will be better or worse than him.
Does the kid enjoy running? If yes then whatever, I just hope the coach/parents aren’t adding pressure. I don’t have kids, but if I did, I wouldn’t stop them from running races (of a reasonable distance) before they turn 14, if that’s what they wanted to do. If they wanted to do some other sport, I would encourage that first though. In fact I’d almost rather my kid play another sport or do other activities so I wouldn’t have to fight the urge to add my own coaching/input or overstep an inept coach they have.
I ran about the same time at that age. My dad bought me running shoes and took me to the local races. I chose how much I wanted to run which was around 15-20 mpw. I loved it. All of it. Won my age most of the time. Then, I got to high school. Other kids starting taking running more seriously. I was getting beat and hated it. So, I ran more and ran harder. Then injured. Rinse and repeat. I quit after my sophomore year. I wish I could do it over again, but I can't. As others have said, keep it FUN. No expectations.
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