re: Official Running Log/Marathon Training Thread

Trying to decipher this before I give my thoughts. Are you talking jr high kids running xc in jr high or making the move up to hs?

For first year runners a lot just depends on the kid. I’ve had one kid that was like 5’2” and chunky start off at 29 minutes but wanted it and ended up running 23 mid by seasons end because he worked his tail off. Had other kids that looked like they could’ve been something but couldn’t care less and started at 26 and stay there.

Depending on what state you’re in a team full of 19-22 for girls for three miles is a pretty solid team. My girls last year were in that range and we were 7 in Kansas 5A and would’ve been 4 if not for an injury to our number 2. Had one 18 flatish girl (18:58 5k), 2 19 mid (20 low 5k), and 3 20 low- 20 mid (20 high-21low 5k) girls. The one I lost was in her first year of xc as a junior and went 20:06 in the 5k in her third race.

If you have good consistent training and buy in from the kids then those improvements are achievable on both fronts. There’s just a lot of variables that go into it. I would say you’re more likely to see it from the boys than the girls though, just from prior experience.