You also might want to check if the team he will be joining is having informal practices right now (coaches aren't allowed to lead practice until July 31st (in VA, not sure about MD), but many teams have "captain's practices" where runners get together. It may be more motivating to get up if he is doing it with others.

Mom of a track athlete here again.

It’s OK to listen to music when you’re running alone of course, as long as he’s being safe about and can hear the traffic around him.

When practices start an earnest in August, though, he’ll be running in groups with his teammates, and they won’t be listening to music while they’re running

Most high school coaches will want you to have a watch with GPS these days, because as the previous poster said you can link it to strava and other things, and it has a better tracking of your pace.

The only thing about strava is, it’s another social media account so everyone can see your whereabouts when you post things on strava, and it’s just another account to be wary of about privacy settings. Go easy on strava postings in the beginning.

I’m old so this is dated information. I always listened to music when running on my own in high school (summers, weekends, etc.) No music during practice but you talk to your teammates during runs.

Music when running alone outside of practice is a good thing if it motivates him.

OP here - this is all great info!
I’ve been encouraging DS to try listening to music when he runs on his own (cause that’s what I love about running) - but I’ll stop doing that.
It’s been hard to encourage a new runner to get up early and beat the heat. Most mornings it hasn’t been happening. I suspect that’s the case with lots of kids in the summer.
I appreciate the responses

Anonymous wrote:Unless things have changed, there is no music during XC. Not even at practice.

And a super basic watch is fine. In fact, it's probably better than a fitbit, bc all he needs is a stopwatch basically

Things have changed. Get a garmin so that he'll have accurate data. Every serious runner on the team will have one

Unless things have changed, there is no music during XC. Not even at practice.

And a super basic watch is fine. In fact, it's probably better than a fitbit, bc all he needs is a stopwatch basically

Let him set up a Strava account now. It's an apo to store the runs and track the stats, and has a small social side to it. My boys and their friends in multiple sports all use it, and now many parents do, too

Get any basic Garmin. He will want a watch that has reliable GPS on its own (not through phone).

No music when running w the team. The forerunner works without a phone on you.

Mom of a big xc and track runner here.

Get a watch with a timer and preferably GPS to track how many miles they ran and their pace.

The Garmin Forerunner is the go to and most are <$150/$200.

My DC has had the same watch the past 4 years and it’s great. I believe it’s the Garmin Forerunner 45 but there are other models.

Also you can get an Apple Watch, but the garmin is better for running specifically.

It may sound expensive but really the watch 1 time and new shoes every season are really the only costs for track so it’s a relatively cheap sport.

Anonymous wrote:Hey I’d appreciate if anyone can fill me in on if HS runners keep their phones on them during practice. I have a rising freshman who will try cross country.
His coach has asked the kids wear a watch so they can time and pace themselves. He said no-frills is fine.
I’m wondering what an example of the No-frills option is - a fit bit?
So do HS runners take their phones in waist packs, pockets in their shorts? Leave them behind?
Finally- how about listening to music? Is that ok during practices generally?
I know DS will be nervous that first week of practice and isn’t going to want to do anything that is glaringly different from what most are doing.
Thank you!

Fit-bit might be too small to see when running to check your kid's pace. As for music, don't let your kid get used to it while running. Earbuds aren't allowed in competition.

You should have nothing in your pocket on on your person that can bounce around. Even jewelry is frowned upon (except for ear studs).

My DS uses a timex ironman. He owns an Apple Watch but prefers the old school one for running. He usually leaves his phone in his backpack during practice but he has compression shorts with a side pocket that he keeps the phone in when he runs on his own. He does not listen to music at practices; the kids talk during their runs.

DD runs without a phone or music. She uses the most basic garmin forerunner

Hey I’d appreciate if anyone can fill me in on if HS runners keep their phones on them during practice. I have a rising freshman who will try cross country.
His coach has asked the kids wear a watch so they can time and pace themselves. He said no-frills is fine.
I’m wondering what an example of the No-frills option is - a fit bit?
So do HS runners take their phones in waist packs, pockets in their shorts? Leave them behind?
Finally- how about listening to music? Is that ok during practices generally?
I know DS will be nervous that first week of practice and isn’t going to want to do anything that is glaringly different from what most are doing.
Thank you!