This is a the second response from Coach Mick to Julie's original letter which is printed below. If you haven't read his first response, please click here.

Thanks again Mick,

From your last response, I can see a 'fun' running training program beginning in September with plans for intramural competition in November and December beginning to take place.

On to the next set of questions!

Day 1: There I am and there they are...50 - 100 males and females, 6th, 7th and 8th graders. I'm looking at them. They're looking at me and listening to me (we can hope) and....

Question #1: What do I say?

Question #2: What do I do?

Question #3: What do WE do, where, and for how long?

Question #4: Are we having fun yet?

Dear Julie,

I would like to expand a little on the need to resist maximizing a young runner's potential. I think that young children need to be developed slowly. A young kid who runs well on 10 miles per week should not be brought up to 20 miles per week in order to squeeze out a few more seconds. Coaches have to think of the long term, when the child will be in high school. I would rather see a young kid run pr's in 200/400/800, and enjoy it, rather than try to compete at a higher level at 3k, where there is less competition. 3k is a high school event, in my opinion. Have fun and teach your kids how to run faster. A youth running program should teach the fundamentals of running technique and fitness.

Also just in case you aren't familiar with the term striders... When we do strides the focus is on form. It's sort of relaxed sprinting. I like the kids to do 6 x 100m strides; 2 x 100m strides@ mile pace (fast), 2 x 100m strides@ 800m pace (faster), 2 x 100m strides@ 400m pace (fastest). Remember these are kids, and I don't want pulled muscles. We're looking for form and a little 'leg turnover'. We stride out on the straightaways and jog/walk on the corners.

Crunches are like sit-ups, except you only lift up about 1/2 way. Make sure to use your abs, not your arms. It helps to cross your arms across your chest.

And we also have the boys and girls do the same kind of push-ups. No modified push-ups for girls.

Please be sure to write again if you need any of my terms clarified.

And again, we're always having fun. Fun is the most important thing. Working towards a goal is fun and rewarding. There always have to be goals to work towards, both short and long term.

Encourage the kids to keep a notebook/journal/log on their training and their goals.

Plan practices for 2-3 times per week and don't have them run more than 2 or 3 miles at each practice (with rest periods).

Be very gentle and careful with beginners. You can easily scare them away. Then when they really like it, you must hold the reigns. They will want to run to much!!!! Believe it.

Note from the kid's editor: Do you have any questions about your child's running program? Send them to Carol at carol.kids@rodale.com. I will forward them to a coach to answer your questions.

Feel free to email the kid's editor at carol.kids@rodale.com with comments on this important column by Coach Mick.