Peaking in track/XC

[Anonymous]

We’ve been looking at other kids’ times on Athletic.net to try to gauge DD’s progress. It seems like most boys get faster throughout high school, but a significant number of girls seem to peak in 9th or 10th grade.

Is that right? Why does that happen with the girls but not the boys? And is there a pattern/predictor of why some girls seem to get slower in early high school?

[Anonymous]

Boys grow at 15 and 16, girls don't. Most girls do improve, just not as dramatically as the boys. For girls that are very fast in 9th-10th grade, injuries are a factor. I see way too many 16 year olds in boots and splints.

[Anonymous]

I’m trying to be kind but it shouldn’t be hard to figure out. The changes that happen to many to girls bodies those years aren’t helpful for running (or swimming). The changes to boys bodies usually are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to be kind but it shouldn’t be hard to figure out. The changes that happen to many to girls bodies those years aren’t helpful for running (or swimming). The changes to boys bodies usually are.

OP. I guess I thought most girls would already have gone through puberty by 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Most girls have gone through puberty by HS but they are definitely leaner in 9th and 10th grade. The girls that do get faster probably build more muscle and have the right body type in 11th and 12th.

Boys have an advantage because they grow later and gain way more muscle.

[Anonymous]

It's structural changes to the hips due to puberty. It's a slow process. It's very frustrating for the girls but that's just how it is sometimes.

[Anonymous]

OK, I could talk about this forever.

Puberty is the main issue. But if that transtion is carefully managed, a lot of girls can continue to improve for at least another decade. The problem is, between toxic coaches and society's messaging, it's really hard to manage this well.

Typical scenario: A freshman who hasn't hit puberty, and maybe doesn't even have much running experience but played soccer, shows up for XC. She's a sensation. Great times and constant improvement. She gets a lot of attention. Goes on to a strong winter and spring season.

But then puberty hits. She freaks out. Starts dieting to hold it off. Then, choose your own adventure: She can't hold it off, and she gets bigger and slower. Her coach berates her for not working hard enough. She starts to lose interest. Running hurts a little more than it did freshman year. She keeps going, but never matches her freshman times; or she quits.

OR, dieting works ... for a while. But by the time she's a senior in high school, she's fully anorexic and prone to stress fractures.

OR, she has a great coach and great parents who work with her patiently to encourage good nutrition, strength training, and adapting to her adult body. This is by far the minority.

[Anonymous]

Eating disorders are rampant with some top athletes. I am even noticing subtle disorders like extreme disordered eating (orthorexia) and parents who try to cover it up or call it something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, I could talk about this forever.

Puberty is the main issue. But if that transtion is carefully managed, a lot of girls can continue to improve for at least another decade. The problem is, between toxic coaches and society's messaging, it's really hard to manage this well.

Typical scenario: A freshman who hasn't hit puberty, and maybe doesn't even have much running experience but played soccer, shows up for XC. She's a sensation. Great times and constant improvement. She gets a lot of attention. Goes on to a strong winter and spring season.

But then puberty hits. She freaks out. Starts dieting to hold it off. Then, choose your own adventure: She can't hold it off, and she gets bigger and slower. Her coach berates her for not working hard enough. She starts to lose interest. Running hurts a little more than it did freshman year. She keeps going, but never matches her freshman times; or she quits.

OR, dieting works ... for a while. But by the time she's a senior in high school, she's fully anorexic and prone to stress fractures.

OR, she has a great coach and great parents who work with her patiently to encourage good nutrition, strength training, and adapting to her adult body. This is by far the minority.

Lots of good stuff there. Especially the last part.

Too many adults don't know what they're talking about with weight training, and sadly few HS athletes get any legitimate true speed training. Female athletes absolutely need to lift. They need to lift heavy to get strong. 3 sets of 12 isn't helping.

Most people who aren't getting faster, or peak early, do so because they don't train to effectively get faster.

[Anonymous]

Lauren Fleshman’s memoir, Good for a Girl, is really excellent on all these questions.

After reading it I have been gently surprised that my daughter’s times have kept steadily improving through high school. But it’s taken a lot of training in the later years; she was nowhere near max effort in 8th/9th grade. Also her school is very aware of potential for injury—I’m grateful for that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eating disorders are rampant with some top athletes. I am even noticing subtle disorders like extreme disordered eating (orthorexia) and parents who try to cover it up or call it something else.

It’s hard for these kids. The messaging around avoiding ultra processed foods and added sugar and carbs=bad, protein=good is everywhere and comes from sources that seem reputable, like the NY Times and their pediatricians and their Peter Attia disciple dads. So the rule-followers think they’re being disciplined healthy eaters and find themselves in trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to be kind but it shouldn’t be hard to figure out. The changes that happen to many to girls bodies those years aren’t helpful for running (or swimming). The changes to boys bodies usually are.

OP. I guess I thought most girls would already have gone through puberty by 9th grade.

In 7th-9th grade, most girls are at their peak in terms of lean muscle mass to total body mass ratio. Most girls will develop more muscle as they grow older, but their ratio of lean muscle mass to total body mass will decline. Boys continue to increase their ratio of lean muscle mass to total body mass into their twenties.

Obviously this doesn’t apply to everyone. But it also explains why many girls in swimming experience a plateau after 13/14.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eating disorders are rampant with some top athletes. I am even noticing subtle disorders like extreme disordered eating (orthorexia) and parents who try to cover it up or call it something else.

It’s hard for these kids. The messaging around avoiding ultra processed foods and added sugar and carbs=bad, protein=good is everywhere and comes from sources that seem reputable, like the NY Times and their pediatricians and their Peter Attia disciple dads. So the rule-followers think they’re being disciplined healthy eaters and find themselves in trouble.

So true! I have to roll my eyes when I hear about teenage girls having strict food rules under the pretense "it's healthier". That's disordered eating!!

[Anonymous]

I loved seeing a sports dietician with my athlete- she said eat anything you want! The focus was really on getting enough calories, enough protein and balance. She encouraged ice cream every night. It was so refreshing to hear

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lauren Fleshman’s memoir, Good for a Girl, is really excellent on all these questions.

After reading it I have been gently surprised that my daughter’s times have kept steadily improving through high school. But it’s taken a lot of training in the later years; she was nowhere near max effort in 8th/9th grade. Also her school is very aware of potential for injury—I’m grateful for that too.

OP. Thanks for the recommendation. I’m reading it now and finding it very informative.