I always say this to my kids; the cool kids at school have peaked already etc. Childhood is just the foundation of your adult life.
6 Likes
i am still building that foundation…
8 Likes
Don’t wait too long 
4 Likes
don’t rush me man…
1 Like
Aging is inevitable, growing up is optional 
4 Likes
See, I’d argue that this approach is because of the obsession with competition that the sporting bodies have, they discourage all the athletes who are process orientated
1 Like
If he “ gave his place on the podium up”
Unlikely I guess, I’d except that
I did well but I take what are effectively peds so I decline any medals, world champs spot ( same as Kona) etc.
If that was me, it never would be, that’s what I’d do.
Absolutely…but it is not just the sporting bodies that drive this process…in part, it is society as a whole, but a big part comes from the way in which sport is funded.
2 Likes
Early physical development and early specialisation does still seem to be rewarded. Ive had this argument at the swimming club that Arena League teams shouldnt be always about picking the same kids monthly due to pb’s because they hit pubity earlier and anaerobic systems are more developed but look at where they will be at 16. Had a case last year, we had 2 x 4 man relay teams for Regionals. An awful family incident meant a boy from the A team dropped out on the morning. Rather than let the B team race, giving 4 boys their first taste of a major championship, they let 3 down with 2 hours notice and moved one boy up so only 1 got that first race experience, and they came 15/16 rather than, 15/16.
You do see many kids dominating at 10-14 who then get caught and drop out. First because others develop a little later, but in some cases they dont train as hard as its all too easy and get a false sense of ability not realising they still need hard work. With early winners you can also have the “parent effect” where pushy parents who think they have the next Brownlee, Peaty or Rooney create a situation of toxicity around a sport for that child meaning those spaces open up for the late developer who had fun and still loves the sport they do.
5 Likes
Also i wonder if there is any link between early winners and ped use (to bring back on topic), would be an interesting study
2 Likes
God
That world sounds…awful.
It should be “ fun” at that age
FFS there just children. I’m racing my son at a 1 km ski erg next time I see him, I hope he beats me, but I’ll give it my all, repeated efforts I’d beat him easily as he doesn t have a lifetime of endurance madness.
He’s 20.
3 Likes
Tri, whilst it still has many issues, is actually far better than a lot. Academies are from 14 years old so kids are at least closer to all being developed, although its still a points system to get in, rewarding those who may be better developed at those times, there is some leeway, but that does lead to politics playing a part. Club level is a lot more about having fun and all playing in my experiences, probably not everywhere, I’m not naïve enough to believe that but generally its very supportive. there are other issues that are well hidden with their inclusivity policies etc, equipment being the big one obviously and the fact it is a very white middle class sport due to those costs, but its better than many teams games that are “cheaper” but they only pick the big strong kids so they can win
Kids sport is still way too political generally, too many people reliant on making a living from it to not be + egos + parents getting involved to further their own kid opportunities. Just let them have fun and keep them active into adulthood!
1 Like
Most of my school peers who could wipe the floor with me aged 10-14 or so, soon moved into my rear-view mirror as we developed and applied ourselves to varying levels. The genes were no longer enough, or mine caught up.
I slowly went from scraping into the 'road run top 20 leaderboard’ in my year (there was a ‘run off’ every year) in Year 7; to representing Plymouth & West Devon schools at XC by Year 11/12; which probably had a pool of 30+ secondary schools.
4 Likes
Can you extrapolate data from Plymouth genes to the rest of the species though ? 
3 Likes
I was also rubbish at school and slowly got average. Somehow set my 5k PB within the last year aged 49, still not quite sure how that works. Guess I must have been doing it wrong all those younger years 
just noticed this is the PED thread. That’s not how!
8 Likes
Not even sure what my 5k PB was; it wasn’t really a thing back in the 80/90s was it? 10K was 34:17 iirc when I was at Uni, plus a 35:xx… then mainly around 37/38 mins until my late 30s. I think I last ran a sub 38min 10k against the clock (in training) when I was 40. Not really botthered after that.
3 Likes
You’re still peaking and improving then 
Or you bought the second alphafly 
3 Likes
my uni 10km PB would have been around 42 minutes
think I ran 37m45 in Poole a couple years ago, that’s PB- again late 40s, a gradual decade on decade creep
2 Likes
I couldn’t get close to that atm; but then I’m not training for it.
1 Like
yes OK Doctor Fuen…Fruity 
6 Likes