📌 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A conservative approach to middle school training sets athletes up for long-term success — don’t simply water down a high school program.
• Take a long-term view: many of the best collegiate women runners weren’t standouts in middle school, so be especially careful not to overtrain young girls.
• Work backwards from a senior-year goal (e.g., 40-45 miles/week for girls, as much as 60 miles a week for boys) to determine appropriate...