Kids Running

STRONG FINISH IN XC by Coach Ed Poirier

October 7, 2007

Dear Ed,
I have a 9-year-old son who loves running and sports. He has been improving gradually each year in sprint and cross-country races. In cross-country events, he is very fast off the start and usually leads the majority of the race but then tends to fade in the last 400 meters. Despite telling him to pace himself, he has this need to beat approximately 300 kids for the race lead. Just recently (2 days ago) at a qualifying 2000 meter race, he held the lead until the last 200 meters and then ended up finishing 3rd. He will be running in the regional finals next Thursday and will probably make it to the city finals which takes place on October 18. Is there anything that he can do between these races to improve his finishes? I was going to have him run (2000 meters or more) every other day and rest the day before the races. Is that a good strategy? Please let me know what you think.

On another note, I get the sense that dedicated training to one event is not advised at this early age. I find it amazing that my son does well in cross-country and sprint events given the theory on slow and fast twitch muscles. He placed 1st in the 100 meter preliminaries and 2nd in the finals (during a spring school meet) and he is coming pretty close to achieving the same results in cross-country. My question is: will he gravitate to one or the other (in time) based on the slow / fast twitch theory?
Thanks for your help,
Donovan

Hi Donovan,
I'll answer your last question first. He does so well in 100 meters because he is exceptionally fit from running 2000 meters and more. How many kids do that? And yes he will naturally guide himself or be guided by a coach to certain events as he gets older based somewhat on slow & fast twitch muscle makeup. Until then he can and should run everything.

Running 2000 - 3000 meters at an easy pace every other day is good strategy. That will help. In his race right now his problem is pacing. He needs to be convinced to run as relaxed as he can with the leaders but not be the leader. Once he does this successfully he will do it for the rest of his running career. He's 9, he's good, and he wants to be out front. It all makes sense. Pacing is a tough thing for an athlete so young. He has got a great kick if he can win 100 meters races. Convince him Dad. Stay with the leaders then use his kick to fly by them with 200 meters to go.
Coach Ed

Coach Ed is a Youth Fitness Specialist with the Attleboro YMCA. The Attleboro (Massachusetts) YMCA is the first YMCA in the nation to embark on a healthy youth initiative.

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