Track

[Anonymous]

Any track coaches out there: my DD is struggling. As a middle schooler was good runner. Mile times near 6 min, 800 under 3. Now in HS one year later and she can barely crack 8 for a mile. Her legs look like lead when she runs. She has grown but not that much, and all muscle. She is lean but not skinny. Nutrition is fabulous, she is a great eater and very diverse foods. Any ideas? Overtraining? Hasn’t hit puberty but that is imminent per pediatrician. No hormone concerns. She is very frustrated…

[Anonymous]

We had different issues but my daughter found speed and agility training really improved her running. If you are in VA, healthy baller and peak performance both have great programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any track coaches out there: my DD is struggling. As a middle schooler was good runner. Mile times near 6 min, 800 under 3. Now in HS one year later and she can barely crack 8 for a mile. Her legs look like lead when she runs. She has grown but not that much, and all muscle. She is lean but not skinny. Nutrition is fabulous, she is a great eater and very diverse foods. Any ideas? Overtraining? Hasn’t hit puberty but that is imminent per pediatrician. No hormone concerns. She is very frustrated…

That is a terrible time for a youngin

[Anonymous]

She hasn’t hit puberty and now in high school wut

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any track coaches out there: my DD is struggling. As a middle schooler was good runner. Mile times near 6 min, 800 under 3. Now in HS one year later and she can barely crack 8 for a mile. Her legs look like lead when she runs. She has grown but not that much, and all muscle. She is lean but not skinny. Nutrition is fabulous, she is a great eater and very diverse foods. Any ideas? Overtraining? Hasn’t hit puberty but that is imminent per pediatrician. No hormone concerns. She is very frustrated…

There you go - you answered it yourself - this is the outward manifestation of her body signaling that things are about to change.

[Anonymous]

Really? So we just need to wait? And to 8:33, that is correct. Dr is not concerned but she is a late developer.

[Anonymous]

Back when I ran track, I remember feeling like someone had turned up earth’s gravity in between 8th and 9th grade, when I had my biggest growth spurt.

As girls get older, they add height and weight but don’t see a proportional rise in strength, so it’s not uncommon to see their times drop. Keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat. Small strength gains may be offset by having more mass to move around the track. It takes awhile for muscles to catch up. They may also be tighter during this stage. Maybe weight training and yoga would help?

[Anonymous]

Thx, PP. that’s helpful. Wish the coaches understood that.

[Anonymous]

If she’s only a 9th grader, you need to lay off. She will develop however she is meant to. As long as she is practicing regularly and eating normally, that’s all you can control.

ALSO, You need to lay off on any pressure she may be feeling, either about her speed, her performance, or her eating or weight. I’m sure she’s picking up on it.