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Date: 30 May 2006 23:23:14
From: Dot
Subject: Age appropriateness
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I had to laugh when I saw this on a sign up for a race that has adult,
junior, and munchkin courses.
"The race organizers feel very strongly that age appropriateness is
important to the development of young athletes. Please do not enter
children in the adult race. When they are 45 and are still running
injury free, they can thank you. We'll thank you right now."
Dot
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"Success is different things to different people"
-Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope
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Date: 30 May 2006 21:23:48
From: TenKMan
Subject: Re: Age appropriateness
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"Dot" <dot.h@#duh?att.net > wrote in message
news:Ct4fg.192193$eR6.13591@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I had to laugh when I saw this on a sign up for a race that has adult,
> junior, and munchkin courses.
>
> "The race organizers feel very strongly that age appropriateness is
> important to the development of young athletes. Please do not enter
> children in the adult race. When they are 45 and are still running
> injury free, they can thank you. We'll thank you right now."
I would be interested to see what the adult course was like. If it was
super extreme or an ultra course, I see the point. Was it really an adult
course or was it a so called "protective" adult labeling it as such. I now
have four kids running and Daniel just finished his sophomore year in HS and
has now lettered twice in XC and twice in track and is a sub 5 minute miler.
Not one kid in 8 years of running has had an injury despite running so
called "adult" courses so I am admittedly skeptical of overprotective race
directors. Plus, has anyone noticed the number of very obsese children in
the US. Interestingly, I see none at the all comers meets, not to mention
the USATF and Hershey meets.
>
> Dot
>
> --
> "Success is different things to different people"
> -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope
>
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Date: 31 May 2006 08:26:50
From: Dot
Subject: Re: Age appropriateness
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TenKMan wrote:
> "Dot" <dot.h@#duh?att.net> wrote in message
> news:Ct4fg.192193$eR6.13591@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
>>I had to laugh when I saw this on a sign up for a race that has adult,
>>junior, and munchkin courses.
>>
>>"The race organizers feel very strongly that age appropriateness is
>>important to the development of young athletes. Please do not enter
>>children in the adult race. When they are 45 and are still running
>>injury free, they can thank you. We'll thank you right now."
>
>
> I would be interested to see what the adult course was like.
You're right. Out of context, that statement may not have the humor that
I saw in the context of the route. It's a 6k loop with 1500 ft of up
plus the corresponding down. I think it's only been around a couple
years. I haven't run it nor am I sure of the route, but from pictures,
etc. it looks like it's a neat route, mostly above treeline, with a hike
to start then easier running. I don't think it has the hazards (steep
falls, glacial rivers, etc) of a typical mountain race. But it's
probably not the kind where you'd want a random, untrained 10-yr old
running alone on the full course - hazards of getting lost, bears, etc.
Juniors - 16 and under - run a 3k out/back with 800 ft up. Munchkins are
under 12 yr, but it doesn't indicate the length. Depending upon how worn
the trail is, trails above treeline can sometimes be easy to lose, esp.
if it's foggy. For other mountain runs, I think the jr split is around
19, and those are tougher courses. The difference in strength between
adults and kids, even well trained ones, is really apparent in mountain
races.
That said, I know of a couple munchkin-class that run trails with their
ultra parents (different families). The parents apparently train
together at least some times and occasionally do short, easy runs where
the kids run also. I know the one kid took a wrong turn on trail a
couple years ago and didn't understand pacing at all, but he came in 5th
overall in ss race this winter - at age 8. Those kinds of kids can
probably handle something more than munchkin course, but how do you make
exceptions.
If it was
> super extreme or an ultra course, I see the point. Was it really an adult
> course or was it a so called "protective" adult labeling it as such. I now
> have four kids running and Daniel just finished his sophomore year in HS and
> has now lettered twice in XC and twice in track and is a sub 5 minute miler.
> Not one kid in 8 years of running has had an injury despite running so
> called "adult" courses so I am admittedly skeptical of overprotective race
> directors. Plus, has anyone noticed the number of very obsese children in
> the US. Interestingly, I see none at the all comers meets, not to mention
> the USATF and Hershey meets.
I agree. In the fall xc races (urban trails, well marked), there's a
competitive and farm league (no ages, but competitive is longer, say 10k
vs 5k) plus munchkins (finish times aren't published and shorter races).
I think one issue with separating out the really small kids who probably
shouldn't be alone on some trails is keeping things non-competitive at
that age. Get out and run and have fun.
However, there's one family with 3 girls in early teens now and one boy
about same age. They routinely compete in road races, xc, and some of
the shorter trail races and place highly - like wins in xc runs
(competitive league sometimes) and maybe top 5 or 10 in large road
races. But I think the longest they run may be about 10k or so, so far.
I've noticed distances progressing as they age. (talented kids or pushy
parents, I don't know) But this contrasts with some munchkin-sized that
are knee high and might get run over if people don't see them.
I've never been to a track meet so not sure about who shows up, but
likely the kids that ran track in hs. Trails are more popular here. But
besides the fall xc series (about 8 races, iirc), there are other
out-of-school running groups or activities that I think are fairly
popular - Healthy Futures, Kidz Mile. But probably mostly attended by
the "choir". Gas needs to get a lot more expensive so people can't
afford gas for their da*ned 4 wheelers. Governments and school boards
are becoming more cognizant of health issues and encouraging healthier
living (vending machines will not have as junky food as in the past) and
more interest in maintaining and expanding trail systems. How much of it
actually materializes remains to be seen.
I'm aware of one 19-yr old running the ultra circuit in lower 48, but he
came from ultra parents who were able to guide him. But I think some
people may still question that kind of mileage on kids that are still
growing.
But by the same token, some of the stuff I've been reading lately
discussing training from years ago or high school training, it seems
like some people push early (hs) and have short careers (injuries,
burnout, etc) while others take their time building through high school
and have much longer careeers, even it they didn't do well in hs. IOW,
in school, kids start running in races a couple times a week, but how
much base did they have to start? I'm sure your kids have more base than
most, but say, an average jr high or freshman runner, have they built an
aerobic base before starting to add all the speed work? I don't know
since we didn't have girls' running in school, and the team sports just
trained sport-specific skills with some laps to warm up or punishment.
I'm sure things have advanced in the last 45 years, but based on
questions being asked by high schoolers in other running forums, I
wonder if it's school specific (some coaches are more knowledgeable than
others and more interested in long-term development of student athlete).
You bring up good points.
Dot
--
"Success is different things to different people"
-Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope
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