Quiz the Coach :: I Love Running!

Cross Country Running

So ya dig sports but need some help with your game? Don't understand some of the rules of football, basketball or hockey? Got a gripe about P.E. class, skateboarders, cheerleading, coaches, or anything? Why not Quiz the Coach?

Hey Coach,
I love running! When I'm in school, I practice really hard at cross-country practice and stay in shape. The only problem is that when summer comes, I start to get lazy. I probably only run 1-2 miles a WEEK. School's coming around and I want to get in shape no matter how hard I have to train. Please help me with as many tips as you know.

runner_chic74

Hey runner_chic74
I think it's great that you love running but it's important you don't take the sport too seriously. It's okay to be a bit lazy during the summer because training too much can cause you to burn out mentally and physically. During the off-season, it's a good idea to take a break from running a lot and try doing some cross training. You should try other sports like hiking, swimming, biking and basketball. This will keep you in shape and also work out other muscles that don't get worked as much during the cross-country running season.

About six weeks before the season starts, you should start increasing the amount of running you do. However, check with your P.E. teacher or coach first to find out how far, and how often, you should be running. Running too much can cause over-use injuries, especially in kids whose muscles and bones are still developing.

For more running tips and info on training programs, head to www.kidsrunning.com.

Do you need tips or advice on sports, fitness or health? Send it to the Kidzworld Coach. Keep in mind peeps, the Kidzworld Coach isn't a doctor or a professional athlete or anything like that. He's just a dude who digs sports, plays 'em and knows a lot about 'em. You should always talk to your 'rents, a doctor or your school gym teacher before starting a new sport or a new exercise.