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[quote=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.

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