Youth Runner Magazine May-June 2016

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING RUNNING SHOES? MAY-JUNE 2016 $4.95

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SUMMER APPAREL BEST GEAR TO KEEP YOU COOL FOR SUMMER RUNNING

DISTANCE RUNNER

CHRISTINA

SEVSEK!

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1 | MAY/JUNE 2016

PHOTO BY REBECCA JOELSON

CELEBRATING

20 YEARS

OF INSPIRING YOUNG ATHLETES

PHILLIP ROCHA FEATURED IN THE FEB/MARCH 2013 ISSUE YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 1

YR MOMENTS LEANING IN FOR THE WIN Close finish in the 9-10 boys race of the 100 meter dash at the Phoenix Invitational. #776 De'Andre Jenkins gets the lean first over the line and #1762 Kenneth Goodwin is 2nd. What an effort!

SMOTHERMAN IMAGES 2 | MAY/JUNE 2016

YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 3

YR CONTENTS: MAY-JUNE 2016

READY.SET.GO

Vol. 21 issue 2

AN INTERVIEW WITH DISTANCE RUNNER

CHRISTINA SEVSEK 8

FEATURE

PHOTO BY KLOTZ IMAGES

CHECK IT OUT

TRAINING

16-17 FAN SHOTS

12

18-19 MEET HIGHLIGHTS

TSC YOUTH TRACK CLUB

20-21 SPRING TRACK SHOES

2-3 YRMOMENTS

ASK YOUTH RUNNER COACHES GEAR

27 SUBMIT AN ATHLETE

FEATURING LAURYN HESKIN AND ALEX ADDISON

MORE

24

28 COMPRESSION SOCKS 29 COMING UP

26

SUMMER RUNNING GEAR

6

LETTER FROM GUEST EDITOR ELLA DONAGHU

BLOGGER 7 YRCLARA JAMES

14-15 POSTER YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 5

YR GUEST

EDITOR

VOL. 21 ISSUE 2 | MAY/JUNE 2016 PUBLISHER/EDITOR Dan Kesterson EDITOR AT LARGE Ian Kesterson GUEST EDITOR Ella Donaghu

Ella takes the anchor leg in the Girl’s DMR at the Oregon Relays

LETTER FROM THE

GUEST EDITOR Hi, this is Ella! As I look ahead to my exciting transition into college, I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on my time as a high school runner and share a few thoughts with you all.

The next step for me is a very big, exciting one – as much as I’ve loved my time in high school, I’m definitely very ready to dive into my next adventure in college. When I took my visit to Stanford last fall, things felt right; I fell in love with the team, the coaches, the program, the place, and the school. It was an environment I could picture myself developing in as an athlete, student, and person. But most importantly, it was a place where I knew I would be really happy and surrounded by a group of awesome people. Words cannot describe how much I’m looking forward to getting to know my new teammates this coming fall.

I was in fifth grade when I watched then 16 year-old Jordan Hasay race her way to the finals of the 2008 Olympic Trials 1500m. I was in absolute awe of her

EDITOR'S NOTES 6 | MAY/JUNE 2016

performance, and I think it was then that I decided I was going to be a runner. I did a little bit of racing in middle school, but I really committed myself to running my freshman year of high school. My first year was a wild one; I was so inexperienced, and every race I ran my absolute guts out. I wanted to see improvement every race, and even though I did for a couple of months, that trend eventually came to a grinding halt. When it did, I was incredibly frustrated – I didn’t understand how my training could be going so well and my races could not be getting faster every time I stepped on the track.

Running is not for the faint of heart. And it also isn’t for those who aren’t willing to be patient. Every young runner should know that development in this sport is never linear. If it were, a lot more people would stick with it. My dad and coach has always told me that I’m writing my own story in this sport, that how I’m developing might not look the same or unfold at the same pace as someone else’s. “We all get there different ways,” he would tell me. “Don’t ever compare your story to someone else’s.” Understanding this was probably the biggest hurdle I had to get (continued on p. 7)

The blogger team is building momentum here at Youth Runner....high school junior Savannah Jessup did a great job on the gear for summer review and Jesse gives his take on shoes from the perspective of a high school runner, and Clara tells us about her year of competitions. If you'd like to be a blogger email editor@youthrunner.com.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & BLOGGERS Jesse Lambrecht,, Savannah Jessup, Dylan Cloud, Espen Lehnst, Mick Grant, Casey Lum, Drew Wasmund, Cregg Wienmann, Jordan Schilit, Emma Smith, Jesse Lambrecht, Michael Bergmann, Mike Fleming ART DIRECTOR Sean Kesterson CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Eric Skelton CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Klotz Images, Har Rai Khalsa, Smotherman Images, Diane Addison, Shena Smith, Clarence Franklin, Nike, Photo Run, Dingo Images, Instagrammers, Fans WEBSITE-DIGITAL-VIDEO Sean Kesterson

THANKS TO: Sponsors, Blue Goose Productions, Michael Johnson, Chris Quagliani , Jett Larson, Olivia DeKlotz, Emma Keenan, Anissa Bautista, Zoe Walker, ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIPS mediakit@youthrunner.com TOP PHOTO BY KLOTZ IMAGES. PORTRAIT BY HAR RAI KHALSA

Ella Donaghu, HS Senior at Grant HS, Portland, OR

SUBSCRIPTION RATES US One Year: Print $14.95 Subscribe at www.youthrunner.com PUBLISHED BY: Youth Runner Magazine is a registered trademark of GoSportz Media LLC. Published 5 times a year by GoSportz Media, LLC Copyright 2016 all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission. Editorial contributions are welcome, submit queries to editor@Youthrunner.com. Gosportz Media LLC and it’s publisher assumes no liability for the content or opinion of it’s writers or advertisers and reserves the right to reject any advertising at it’s own discretion. Youth Runner recommends that you consult with your coach and your physician on any changes with your training, fitness and health issues.

YOUTH RUNNER

BLOGGERS CLARA'S FAVORITES

Running Shoes

Activity

Clara James-Heer 4th Grade Coopersville, Michigan

YR BLOGGER CLARA JAMES-HEER

TRIATHLETE & TRACK

Hello! My name is Clara. I am 9 years old (turning 10 this June) and I’m from Coopersville, Michigan. I run with the Ann Arbor Track Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I worked hard over the last year to earn national titles in three different sports – cross country, track and field, and triathlon. At the AAU 14 & Under Youth Indoor National Championships at Eastern Michigan University. I finished first in the Girls 1600 Meter Run and first in the Girls 800 Meter Run. In November of 2015, I competed in the Cross Country Coaches National Youth Championships in Lexington, Kentucky. I placed first out of 215 girls in the Girls 9-10 Year Old 3K Run with a time of 11:53:89. In August of 2015, I won my second consecutive national title at the USA Triathlon Youth National

Championships for 9-year old girls with a time of 20:43:31. The event was held in West Chester, Ohio. USA Triathlon honored me last summer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with their Most Inspirational Comeback Award, after breaking my back in two places (T4 & T6 vertebrae) in 2013. I am a 4th grade girl who LOVES to run and I don’t take that for granted after sustaining a serious injury. No matter what life throws at me, I will always, always, always keep going. I want to help inspire other youth runners to do the same.

(continued from p. 6) over in my first couple of years of high school running - it was absurd and unrealistic for me to think that every race would be a personal best. Having patience and trusting in my training was and still is crucial. I can say that learning to have patience and that improvement is not just measured in PRs is the most important thing I’ll take away from my experience as a high school runner.

You will all go on to write your own stories in this sport, and I hope you’ll learn to love and accept every moment of your own personal journey, and never compare it to somebody else’s. - Ella Donaghu

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K E S SEV CHRISTINA

leading pack and see how the pace was. I didn't really have such a big strategy for this race because I didn’t really know who my competitors were, as I never raced against them before. The most challenging parts of the race were probably keeping the lead near the end of the race, as I knew people were going to finish strong. (Christina placed 2nd in the 3000m and 3rd in the 1500m) What were you thinking at the starting line? Were you nervous or just another race?

I was feeling excited because it was my first race of the season but a bit nervous and because I wanted to have a good race.

What was your overall experience of running at Hayward Field and being in Eugene, Oregon?

Running at Hayward field was such an unbelievable experience. The big stadium and crowd surrounding you while you run cheering you on was really motivational. Being in Eugene Oregon was very enjoyable since it was my first time visiting there, and the people in the neighbourhoods were so friendly and welcoming.

CHRISTINA, AGE 16 IS FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC. SHE HAS A TWIN SISTER JULIE, IS PRETTY GOOD AT THE 1500M AND THE 3000M AND PLACED 5TH FOR TEAM CANADA AT THE PAM AM CROSS COUNTRY CUP IN VENEZUELA. SHE LIKES PASTA, FRUIT AND THE MOVIE MCFARLAND. YR: First off, describe in as much detail as you can your races from the Oregon Relays. Including any strategy you had going in, the other girls you raced against, & the most challenging parts of the races.

Christina: The races in the Oregon Relays went well. My strategy was just to start off strong and to stay in the

8 | MARCH/APRIL 2016

How exciting was it to be leading in the 1500 in front of the crowd?

It was so exhilarating to be leading in the 1500m with the crowd cheering you on the whole way through the race it really inspired me to keep the lead and to continue running strong.

What were your favorite races to watch as a spectator?

My favourite race I watched at the Oregon relays would probably be the college girls 5000m as I love long distance running and I hope in the future to run the 5000m races. Also it was really an honour watching such high class athletes race together.

DISTANCE

RUNNER KLOTZ IMAGES

YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 9

How did you and your twin sister got started in running?

We were able to join cross country in grade three and we didn't know much about it but we joined it anyways. The first few practices we right away loved it and people were saying that we were really good at running. So from there on we just kept on running and training because we really enjoyed it and discovered that we were good at it.

What was your first fun run or race?

My first race was in grade three for cross country and I was really nervous before because it was my first race ever and I didn't know how I would do. But I ended up placing 1st and I was so ecstatic and just couldn't wait to run my next race.

What are your personal bests now for the 1500 and the 3000?

My personal best for the 3000m now is 9:52 and my personal best for the 1500m now is 4:40 Can you describe your best and most memorable race ever?

That would have to be when I made the Canada National Team for the Pan Am cross country cup in Venezuela. I was racing up in the junior race with people two years older than me. It was such an amazing experience running against such elite athletes and the race went really good. I placed 5th individually and as a team we finished 1st place.

Tell us about your twin sister, how are you the same and what is different in your personalities?

Twin sisters Christina and Julie

10 | MAY/JUNE 2016

“

MY SISTER AND I LOVE RUNNING TOGETHER AND RACING AGAINST EACH OTHER BUT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY I'M THE FASTER TWIN. My twin sister and I are exactly the same.

We do everything together and we're each other’s best friends and running buddies.

Who is faster?

My sister Julie and I love running together and racing against each other but I would have to say that I'm the faster twin.

What do you do to push each other?

We train together all the time and we're always pushing each other by motivating and encouraging each other to do the best we can. We're also very competitive with each other and I think it really helps us train hard and push our abilities. In school we we both strive to get better grades than each other even though we pretty much get the same grades.

How about your dad...looks like he is a huge support, does he also help coach you?

My dad is a huge supporter and helps time me at practices.

What are the other competitions you are looking forward to for the rest of the track season?

I'm looking forward to is the BC high school championships; the BC athletics club championships, and the Legion national championships.

What about cross country?

The BC high school cross country championships, the BC athletics club cross country championships, and the national cross country championships.

What are your FAVORITES? School Subject- Biology Color- Blue Food- Pasta and Fruit Movie- McFarland Running shoe brand- Mizuno Phone App- Youth Runner Magazine What do you do for fun that's not related to running? I enjoy biking, swimming and hiking.

Anything else about yourself you'd like to share?

My sister Julie and I also do this race every year called the Grouse Grind and it's commonly referred to as "Mother Nature's Stairmaster" and it's a mountain race where you run-hike up 2,830 stairs with lots of big rocks you have to climb over. The elevation of the mountain is 2,800 feet and on average it takes up to an hour and a half to complete the hike and the recommended time is two hours. However my sister and me take 32 minutes to complete the hike, which is very close to the record time for women, which is 30:52. This race is probably one of the hardest things we have ever done in our life and it is mentally and physically challenging but we still love doing it anyway. Last year we ran in the elite women's category, which were 20 - 40 year olds. I placed 1st and my sister Julie placed 2nd for overall women. It was a great accomplishment for my sister and I. What advice do you have for other youth runners?

If you ever want to achieve something or have a goal for something just believe you can do it and success will come if you put your mind to it.

ELITE MIDDLE

SCHOOL

CAMP

AUGUST 6-11, 2O16 OPEN TO BOYS & GIRLS ENTERING 6TH-8TH GRADE THIS FALL LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE PORTLAND, OREGON

LIMITED TO 6O MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETES SCHOLARSHIPS MAY BE AVAILABLE EMAIL CAMP@YOUTHRUNNER.COM

REGISTER NOW AT: YOUTHRUNNERCAMP.COM PHOTO BY KLOTZ IMAGES

LONG ISLAND LAURYN HESKIN & ALEX ADDISON ATHLETES OF THE YEAR FROM THE TSC YOUTH TRACK CLUB TSC is a Youth Track Club with runners ranging from six to eighteen.

They compete in both USATF & AAU and believe that with hard work anything is possible - on or off of the track. The results speak for themselves. Most of their runners are High Honor Roll students and have sent athletes to every National Championships in Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track for the past five years. Some of the runners have achieved the highest level of success National Champions and All-American status. You do not need to be an elite runner to be apart of the team, the only requirement is that you are willing to work hard and have fun. They practice three days a week and annually have a team Valentine's Day Party, St. Patrick's day party, Labor Day Weekend Camping Trip, Halloween Party, and New Year's Eve party. This year they are adding a trip to Hershey Park after the USATF Outdoor Championships.

12 | MAY/JUNE 2016

Lauryn Heskin, 12, was recently named Female Long Island Athlete of the Year (for the 4th time). Lauryn holds 2 world records for the road 5k and indoor 3000m.

She has earned 15 national titles and 26 All American titles. Lauryn is looking to better her current 5k world record and break some new ones!

Alex Addison, 10, was recently named Male Long Island Athlete of the Year. Alex holds 5 Long Island records and is a 2 time All American. He's most proud of his 5k times, currently at 19:13. Alex is training for USATF Outdoor Championships and has already qualified for the 3000m.

We caught up with Lauryn after her recent world record in the 5k of 17:37.3. It was just earlier this year that we featured Madison Denny who broke Ciara Martinez record with a new time of 18:01.8. Now it’s Lauryn's turn to hold the record for a while.

What we found out was that the event where she ran was called Tomorrow’s Hope 5k in Garden City. She said, “This was my first time running this 5k. It was a road race, and was very flat. It was pretty cold, especially since I was only wearing a tank top and shorts. It was a small race, with only 260 runners this year.”

“My race plan was to go out at a good pace, and gradually get faster. Because it was a relatively small race, I didn't have to worry about it being too crowded on the line. At two miles, I was at a time of 10:33. I knew that this was a good pace, so I kept it up.

Part of my plan was also to keep both of my shoes on, which didn't happen in the 800 at the USATF Youth Nationals.”

Lauryn said she was a little nervous at the start because she had never run the course before but it sounds like everything worked out well.

YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 13

CADE ARELLANO RUNNING THROUGH THE STORMS RUNNING TAUGHT HIGH SCHOOL CADE ARELLANO FROM SODA SPRINGS IDAHO HOW TO PUSH THROUGH THE STORMS ON AND OFF THE COURSE WHETHER IT BE THE CLASSROOM OR JUST DAILY CHALLENGES. SODA SPRINGS HAS WON THREE BACK TO BACK STATE XC CHAMPIONSHIPS.

SHENA SMITH

14 | MAY/JUNE 2016

YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 15

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KIDS RULE THE WORLD! WE JUST SHOWCASE THEM! HERE ARE SOME OF YOUR BEST SHOTS THIS SEASON! WANNA SEE YOUR OWN PHOTOS IN THESE PAGES? IT'S EASY! ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HASHTAG #YOUTHRUNNER WHEN YOU POST TO INSTAGRAM!

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MEET HIGHLIGHTS MARATHON KIDS

Marathon Kids run the mileage of three marathons during their school year. This is the finale at a school in California.

Photos courtesy of Nike

Column 1

18 | MARCH/APRIL 2016

BOSTON MARATHON The day before the Boston Marathon is a one mile race for local high schools and a 1000 meter race for middle school boys and girls.

18 | MAY/JUNE 2016

Photos by Photo Run

WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS This year the World Indoor Championships were held in the U.S. This is high school senior Vashti Cunningham who won the high jump competition.

Photos by Klotz Images

PHOENIX INVITATIONAL The Phoenix Invitational draws youth clubs from states in the west and attracts the best young athletes and some fast times.

Photos by Smotherman Images

KIDS ROCK The Kids Rock Series is usually the day before the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathons. Distances include a diaper dash, toddler trot, a ½ mile and a mile race for kids up to age 12.

Photos by Photo Run

IT’S MAY ALREADY,

JUNIOR CARLSBAD The Junior Carlsbad is an exciting one mile race for kids in…yep you guessed it Carlsbad California. 12 year old winners were Justin Hoban and Jennifer Lopez.

Photos by Photo Run

high school track is soon to wrap up for the season but youth track & field is just hitting high gear with state and association meets all coming up next month. The last two months have been jam packed with track meets and kids running. Marathon Kids completed a great year, the 100 Mile Club program is growing, and some great mile runs like the Junior Carlsbad brought out some fast kids. The Boston high school mile and the middle school 1000 were awesome.

We also had the World Indoor Track & Field Championships come to the U.S. in March. Youth Runner Reporters Faith & Taitum were there covering the event and interviewed several professional athletes. The highlight for us was watching Vashti Cunningham who is a high school senior compete in the high jump and she actually won by jumping a height of 6’ 5”. She is the youngest to ever compete and win the high jump in the history of the World Indoor Championship.

We’re getting ready to head out for the National Run a Mile Days Tour to schools around the country. See you out on the track!

19

SPRING

RUNNING SHOES HIGH SCHOOL DISTANCE RUNNER AND YOUTH RUNNER REVIEWER JESSE PICKED TEN SHOES TO TRY OUT FOR SPRING RUNNING. WE DIDN’T INFLUENCE JESSE ON WHICH SHOES TO LOOK AT, THESE ARE THE ONES HE WAS THE MOST INTERESTED IN. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ANY OF HIS COMMENTS, DROP HIM AN EMAIL: JESSE@YOUTHRUNNER.COM. 2

BY JESSE LAMBRECHT

STABILITY SHOES 1 SAUCONY TRIUMPH ISO 2

1

2 HOKA ONE ONE BONDI 4

3

3 NEW BALANCE FRESH FOAM 1080

I believe that this is one of the best shoes that Saucony has ever made. I really like how much support the shoe offers without making it seem like it is too much. In addition, I enjoy the new cushioning that Saucony has created called Everun. You can feel the difference when you start to really break in the shoe.

The cushioning does not break down too easily, which makes the shoe compatible for running high mileage. Another thing I like about the shoe is that it is a very comfy shoe to even just be walking around in; it is just overall has a really nice feel. There are some things I do not like about the shoe. I do not like the laces, they are stretchy, which makes them hard to tie and they come undone a lot when running. I also am not a fan of the upper, although it is breathable. It begins to rip, it happened when I had about 300-400 miles on the shoe. So it takes a while before it actually happens. All in all, I would rate this shoe a 9 out of 10. I really enjoy this shoe, and think it is a great trainer. I would down rate it 1 just for some of the small little things that could be fixed.

This is one my of favorite shoes. Although it may not be the most attractive shoe, it is a great trainer. The Bondi is very supportive, and offers lots of plush cushioning which makes it great for long runs. I also really like the Early-Stage Meta-Rocker technology that Hoka has incorporated into the shoe.

Although it does not have a lot of flexibility, you still feel that it does because your foot is being rolled into that natural heel to toe running form. This shoe has some small lugs on it so that it can be utilized for both road running (its main purpose) but also for some running on light trails. That makes it a very solid and reliable trainer. I also like the quality of this shoe. It really holds up well when you put lots of miles into it. One thing I do not like about the shoe is that is it very narrow. For the first 30-40 miles in this shoe my pinky toe hurt and I even got a blister. It is no longer a problem because they are broken in, but that's something I would pay attention to if you need a wider shoe. I would rate this shoe an 8.5 out of 10. I would down rate it 1.5 because of the narrow toe box and how the shoe looks.

This is a shoe for max cushioning. Every part of this shoe is built for cushioning, down to the sock lining layer. It is much thicker than others, which makes it a comfier shoe and great for long runs. I also really like how it has a larger toe box, even though the shoe is not necessarily wide. In addition, this shoe has a very breathable upper. Making it one of my favorites for hot days. I also do not like how the laces are stretchy. Like I said for the Saucony Triumph ISO 2. They come untied when running, and sometimes can cause discomfort. Another thing I do not like about the shoe is how bulky it is. It feels almost as bulky as the Hoka One One Bondi 4, but it is a lot more low profile and you are not expecting it. Therefore I am not the biggest fan of the size of this shoe. Also, I do not like the heel cup. I think it is uncomfortable and I sometimes have trouble getting my heel to lock in place. Although this shoe is very cushioned, it is also very bulky. I would rate this shoe a 7 out of 10. It is very cushioned, but I would down rate it 3 because of how bulky it is, the laces, and also the heel cup.

$150

$150

$150

SAUCONY.COM

20 | MAY/JUNE 2016

HOKAONEONE.COM

NEWBALANCE.COM

NEUTRAL SHOES 4 HOKA ONE ONE CLAYTON

HOKAONEONE.COM

$150

This shoe takes Hoka in a whole new direction. Hoka One One is known for having large stack heights and offering tons of support. Now Hoka One One just released the Clayton, which is supposed to offer all of the cushion as its bigger brother the Clifton. The difference is that the Clayton is lighter and a little more low profile. This shoe is only 7.3 Oz. It is very light but tends to break down faster than other shoes.

I really like how this shoe has a little bit of a softer heel and more of a firmer forefoot, which helps to propel you forward. Also that mixed with the lower offset of 4 mm, it makes it a great shoe for faster workouts. This shoe also lacks a lot of flexibility. I really do like this shoe; I like how Hoka is trying to widen their margins by making more “normal” running shoes. I would rate this shoe an 8.5 out of 10. I would down rate it 1.5 because of the flexibility and how fast it wears down. In the end, a pretty good shoe.

5 PEARL IZUMI E: MOTION ROAD N3

PEARLIZUMI.COM

$130

I really like this shoe. It offers lots of cushion, but only a neutral level of stability. I like how they created a neutral trainer but tailored it to people who like more cushion. It has a relatively low heel to toe offset. It is only 4 mm, but the structure helps with faster turnovers. Although it's typically a high mileage shoe, it can be used for some speed workout because of the ability to have faster turnovers. They also included an even ratio of energy foam in the heel and forefoot that gives energy back to the runner. It also has different types of rubber for max absorption. I also really like the bottom of this shoe. It makes it more responsive and helps give more traction. I would rate this shoe a 10 out of 10. There is really nothing I don't like about the shoe. For being what it is made for, which is lots of miles, I believe that it's a great trainer.

6 BROOKS LAUNCH 3

BROOKSRUNNING.COM

$110

I was unimpressed with this shoe. It is very similar to the Brooks Launch 2, so if you liked that shoe, you will most likely like this one. I do not like how heavy the shoe is. It is 9.8 Oz. I just think it is a little heavy for what they are saying this shoe can do. It also has a 10 mm heel to toe offset. I think that is very high.

It typically makes the shoe run louder because your foot hits the heel way before the toe area. There are some things that I do like about the shoe nonetheless. I like how it is very breathable. The whole upper is pretty much mesh, so it is nice to run in. I also like how flexible it is. It makes it a good all around trainer.

I would rate this shoe a 6 out of 10. I would down rate it 4 because of the high offset and the weight.

7 NIKE AIR ZOOM PEGASUS 32

NIKE.COM

$110

This is one of the only shoes I have seen that has such a variety of sizes, going all the way down to 6 and up to 15. I love how responsive this shoe is. It really springs you back and that helps a lot. I also really like how flexible it is. Although there are some good things about this shoe, I do not like how large the heel to toe drop is. It's 10 mm, which is much too high. I do not like how narrow and heavy the shoe is. I also felt that when I ran in it my Achilles tendon felt a little weird and irritated. I would rate this shoe a 7 out of 10. I would down rate it 3 because of the high offset, and the problems I had with my Achilles.

8 MIZUNO WAVE RIDER 19

MIZUNOUSA.COM

$120

This shoe is great for runners of all ages and sizes. With a 12 mm heel to toe offset, it has to have a good transition from heel to forefoot. I normally do not like offsets that high but with such a smooth transition I did not totally mind this one. I like how durable this shoe is. It just is made of good material and won’t take as much wear and tear as some other shoes. It is also quite breathable. Also they talk about how this is a lightweight neutral trainer. At 9.6 Oz. I would say to call a shoe lightweight it has to be at least under 9 Oz. In the end, I would rate this shoe a 9 out of 10. I would down rate it 1 because of the weight of the shoe. I really do like this shoe though. It is a good solid trainer.

9 ALTRA INSTINCT 3.5

ALTRARUNNING.COM

$115

MINIMALIST

Although I am not a fan of high offsets, I do want some offsets. And when it comes to Altra shoes, you won’t get one. That’s right, they have zero heel to toe drop. This shoe could do more damage than good. I do like some things about this shoe, though. I really like how lightweight it is. It's only 8.1 oz. Also I like how these shoes are very wide. They make them like that to implement barefoot running and making it more natural.

This is a short summary because this shoe is different and not in a good way. I would rate this a 4 out of 10. I would down rate it 6 because of the way they try to make it like barefoot running, and that would cause a lot of injuries. I would not recommend Altra shoes for the average high school runner.

10 SAUCONY KINVARA

SAUCONY.COM

$110

This is my favorite shoe for doing speed work in. It is so lightweight, and very flexible. I like how it only has a 4 mm offset. I really like how they now implemented the new Everun technology.

Other shoes tend to be a little more durable. It is probably because they want to make the shoe as lightweight as possible. I do not like how the bottom of this shoe is. It lacks a lot of traction that someone would want in a shoe for faster days. I like how it can be used for both just normal running and workouts. It is a good all around shoe. I would rate this shoe an 8.5 out of 10. I would down rate it 1.5 because of low durability and traction that the shoe offers.

YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 21

STAY COOL THIS SUMMER WITH THE RIGHT RUNNING GEAR.

BY SAVANNAH JESSUP YOUTH RUNNER BLOGGER

WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY COOL DURING YOUR WORKOUTS ON THOSE HOT SUMMER DAYS? YR Blogger Savannah does too, so she came up with a story on running gear for summer.

She recruited friends for the models, found the location, and took all the pictures. For this photo shoot Savannah put together outfits from Brooks and Under Armour. If you have comments or ideas for her next story send her an email.

Savannah@youthrunner.com.

22 | MAY/JUNE 2016

ZOE:

"I really enjoyed all of the pieces. The yoga pants were super comfortable and easy to move around in. I also enjoyed all of the fun colors and designs!�

EMMA:

"Everything was lightweight enough to stay cool and dry on a nice summer day.

The material for all the Brooks leggings was so soft it felt like having another layer of skin on. The shoes felt like walking on clouds."

23

SUNGLASSES UA NITRO L $64.99

SHIRT UA STREAKER RUN $29.99

SHOES GRADE SCHOOL SPEEDFORM FORTIS $89.99

SHORTS

TOP

UA STREAKER $39.99

UA COOLSWITCH UA LAUNCH RUN SINGLET RUN $39.99 $74.99

PANTS

JACKET

SOCKS

SHOES

US STREAKER RUN ZIP $54.99

US SPEEDFORM NO-SHOW – 3 $30

APOLLO 2 REFLECTIVE $99.99

CHRIS:

"My favorite piece of clothing was the Under Armour SpeedForm Apollo Shoes. They provided great support and stability without sacrificing style or comfort."

TOP

HAT

UA LUNA $22.99

UA CAP $21.99

SHIRT

SPORTS BRA

UA STUDIO $52.99

UPRISE CROSSBACK SPORTS BRA $48

SHOES UA SPEEDFORM GEMINI $129

24 | MAY/JUNE 2016

SHOES UA SPEEDFORM APOLLO 2 $100

JACKET

PANTS

RALLY JACKET $98

STREAKER CAPRI $85

SPORTS BRA MOVING COMFORT SURESHOT RACER SPORTS BRA $38

SHOES NUERO $130

TOP UA COOLSWITCH $29.99

SHOES UA SPEEDFORM APOLLO 2 REFLECTIVE $99.99

MJ:

"The pocket in the black Brooks shorts are really cool and makes it handy to carry stuff. The tight inside layer makes it more comfortable to run. They're also super light too."

TOP UA RUN GRAPHIC T-SHIRT $29.99

SPORTS BRA UA BREATHE $34.99

SHOES GRADE SCHOOL SPEEDFORM FORTIS $89.99

YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 25

ASK A

COACH

ANSWERS FROM THE YOUTH RUNNER COACHES Everything you needed to know about Fartleks, side aches, and choosing safe long distance races.

Q WHAT IS A

FARTLEK, ANYWAY? JORDAN SCHILLIT: 'Fartlek' would be short reps of 5k or 10k 'race pace' running mixed into a standard distance run. It has a silly name which is also Swedish for 'speed play', Fartlek is a type of running that helps trick your body into running fast without working too hard too early into the summer.

Fartlek running is great because it's very flexible - it has the ability to be a very challenging workout or simply a slightly moderate distance run. You have a lot of control with this type of workout and it is pretty simple.

"FARTLEK IS A TYPE OF RUNNING THAT HELPS TRICK YOUR BODY INTO RUNNING FAST WITHOUT WORKING TOO HARD, TOO EARLY." 26 | MAY/JUNE 2016

Jordan Schillit: Professional Runner

Mike Fleming: Middle School Coach

Q WHAT DOES IT

MEAN WHEN YOU GET A SIDE ACHE OR A SIDE STITCH? MIKE FLEMING: A side ache is a cramp

in the diaphragm area of the body.

It usually rears it ugly head when you are working out harder than you're used to. When your body needs more oxygen it makes you breathe in and out harder forcing your diaphragm upwards, but most kids by habit pull their belly in which causes the diaphragm up. The diaphragm will do its best but eventually fatigue sets in and cramping begins. You can reduce your chances of having diaphragm cramps by the practice of pushing the belly out during inhalation.

This is a great exercise to practice during your harder workouts.

Michael Bergmann: High School Coach

Q IS IT SAFE FOR

KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 7-9 TO RUN 8K RACES? WHAT ARE SAFE DISTANCES FOR YOUTHS TO RUN? MICHAEL BERGMANN: I would recommend

starting kids that are 7 to 9 years old to not race anything above a 2k. They might be able to go farther in a training run on soft surfaces but their joints are still developing and it is more important to have them have fun, learn some proper running technique and just build up to that as they become older.

WANT MORE? Go to “ASK A COACH” at Youthrunner.com for more great answers from these coaches.

SUBMIT AN

ATHLETE

BRENDAN JOHNSON

WON TWO NATIONAL TITLES

The fourth grade class at Johnnycake Elementary School in Catonsville, MD should be proud of their classmate 9 year old Brendan Johnson for winning two “National Titles” at the USATF Hershey Youth Indoor Track & Field Championships.

It was March 11-13th at the Ocean Breeze Sports complex in Staten Island, NY where Brendan ran in the 9-10 year old age groups in the 400m, 800m, and the 1500m run.His time in the 800m was 2:33 and 5:08 in the 1500m. He also took home a silver medal in the 400m.

Brendan has four brothers, plays quarterback for the PG Storm football team and is a point guard for the Cofield Swarm. He loves math and enjoys writing stories and wants to be either a teacher or coach when he grows up.

Brendan is a member of the Baltimore City Track Club.

Way to Go Brendan!

TOP DOG OF THE MONTH

SHOT PUT RECORD BREAKER

TWO SCHOOL RECORDS

Jailen Hicks, 10 Greensboro, NC

Sophia Scott, 8 Omaha, Nebraska

Taylor Roe, HS Sophomore Lake Stevens, WA

Jailen runs the 100m, 200m, and 400 meters. He is a two time All-American, three time National Champion and a two time Junior Olympian.

Watch for Jailen at Junior Olympics.

Nick named “String Bean”, she just broke the state record for under eight year olds in Nebraska. She’s not the biggest shot putter out there but she makes it up with hard work. Keep it up Sophia!

After moving to a new school this year Taylor broke two school records in three days and posted the second fastest 800 time in school history. As a freshman she was a state xc champion.

ARE YOU A YR-KID? Let us know what makes you a Youth Runner.

Submit an Athlete at: youthrunner. com/events/ athlete/submit

Smotherman Images

YOUTH RUNNER TOP DOG OF THE MONTH

READ THE FULL STORIES ABOUT THESE ATHLETES AT YOUTHRUNNER.COM YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 27

YR

GEAR

CEP COMPRESSION SOCKS

By Savannah Jessup

both men and women. I loved them; my friends loved them! They’re also perfect everyday wear for boys of athletic style. My favorite part is the maximum stability they provide to prevent injuries for your muscles and joints.

COMPRESSION SOCKS After trying a pair of CEP Compression Socks, you will be convinced to go buy more! I got the pleasure to try CEP’s short dynamic socks. They’re so light, you can’t even tell you're wearing them. Not only was it the great price of these athletic socks that had me drooling, it was the large array of color options. With so many choices, it’s challenging to leave with only a single pair. These socks are stellar for 28 | MAY/JUNE 2016

MACROBAR I also got to try CEP’s MacroBar. I sure did not feel guilty about those 290 calories once I saw there is 11 grams of protein in the bar. Not only was the bar delicious, but it is perfect for everyone!

It is gluten free, vegan, soy-free and non-GMO certified. The MacroBar provided me natural energy, and I can tell it is a very wholesome product.

COMING UP! HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS YOU’LL WANT TO ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR:

REGISTRATION

AAU WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP, RENO, NV I JUNE 30-JULY 3RD PRIMARY NATIONALS, ORLANDO, FL I JULY 7-9TH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP, ORLANDO, FL I JULY 10-16TH AUG 6TH NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPIC T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS, HUMBLE, TX I JULY 29TH

YOUTH-USATF FUTURE STARS CHAMPS, FEDEERAL WAY, WA I MAY 14-16TH HERSHEY YOUTH OUTDOOR CHAMPS, MILLERSVILLE, PA I JUNE 28-JULY 3RD TRACK TOWN YOUTH LEAGUE CHAMPS, EUGENE, OR I JULY 9TH USATF NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPICS, SACRAMENTO, CA I JULY 25-31

FOR THE DETAILS AND REGISTRATION LINKS GO TO YOUTHRUNNER.COM

INVITATIONALS SPRING FLING INVITATIONAL, ICAHN STADIUM AT RANDALL’S ISLAND I MAY 2ND WINGS OF OMAHA INVITATIONAL OMAHA, NE I MAY 7TH VALLEY YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS, CLOVIS CA I MAY 7TH FLYERS-FLASH TRACK CLASSIC, NEW FAIRFIELD, CT I MAY 8TH HUNTERDON HAWKS YOUTH, GLEN GARDNER, NJ I MAY 13-16TH LINCOLN YOUTH TC, NEBRASKA WESLEYAN I MAY 14TH 3M INVITATIONAL, UNION CITY, CA I MAY 14-15TH TEXAS STORM ANNUAL, PEARLAND, TX I MAY 14-16TH YOUTH CHALLENGE SERIES, MANHATTAN, NY I MAY 20TH FAITH TRACK CLASSIC, BATON ROUGE, LA I MAY 21ST GET FIT IN MAY 5K, EXETER, NH I MAY 21ST NJ STRIDERS INVITATIONAL, MAHWAH, NJ I MAY 22ND FLYERS THROWS FESTIVAL, OMAHA, NE I MAY 25TH 27th RISING STARS I MAY 26TH WINGS OF EAGLE, SEATTLE, WA I MAY 26TH LA JETS INVITATIONAL, HARBOR CITY, CA I MAY 27-29TH NORTHWEST FLYERS, KLEIN, TX I MAY 27-28TH UAGTCA OUTDOOR MEET 4, PHILADELPHIA, PA I MAY 28TH MIDWEST T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS FISHEERS, IN I JUNE 3RD-4TH UAGTCA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, PHILADELPHIA, PA I JUNE 4TH KTCCCA MIDDLE SCHOOL STATE, LOUISVILLE, KY I JUNE 4TH PORTLAND TRACK FESTIVAL YOUTH, HILLSBORO, OR I JUNE 4-5TH GRAMMAR SCHOOL SERIES, STATEN ISLAND, NY I JUNE 11-12TH

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