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[quote=Anonymous][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.

[/quote]

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. [/quote]

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