800m & 1,500m athletics. Dd wants to be the next Keely Hodgkinson or Georgia Bell! What does mid distance entail?

[Recyclingmummy]

Dd has been gripped by the Olympics, she's 12 very tall & slim, she wants to try mid distance running with an athletics club.. What does it entail as regards training & is it tough? Keely Hodgkinson & Georgia Bell are great role models to young girls & have inspired dd to want to try mid distance athletics

That's great, thanks so much for the tip. If anyone can advise on what type of shoes for a beginner it would be great, they train on a proper track. Thanks for all the encouragement & advice!

Decathlon do some entry level spikes that will work on the track and for XC - you can just change the pins for XC. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/kids-and-adult-shoes-with-spikes-at-start-navy-blue/_/R-p-302412

I have an U13 DD who now does pentathlons and javelin plus a middle distance running, U17 DS. They both started off with these and they were fine. They get a lot more expensive once they start specialising and putting more mileage in!

My daughter (now 14) started running at our local athletics track and has fallen in love with it. She runs 2 x a week plus a parkrun on a Saturday. She does the cross country and 800m but although she's good she's not the best but it doesn't matter. She's made lots of new friends, been away with the club and finds running helps her with everyday school stresses. It's so good for her, I hope she carries on forever!

That sounds ideal! It's great for teens to be out & working on their fitness while socialising ☺️ I hope my dd experiences the same!

Can't comment on these particular spikes but generally speaking, on all but playing field type XC courses, a specific XC spike is better, as they have a stone plate on the mid and forefoot part of the sole, this makes the shoe more comfy and prevents the spike being pushed up into the foot of the runner, if they land on a rock etc, they also have a tougher & grippier sole.

Brooks XC Draft unisex spike is about £70 from their site and has a money back guarantee even if the shoes are used.

My DD had the previous model and they lasted her for several seasons plus doubled up for the track too.

Good luck @Recyclingmummy and daughter!
London 2012 inspired a child who came to our cycling club. She's now a pro cyclist. She wasn't in the Olympics, but was in the Commonwealth Games, and holds a number of national and Euro titles.

Thanks so much, I will check these out!

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads thanks so much. I'm excited for her, after years of dh & I suggesting activities (& pushing certain ones🙈) I'm so happy that the drive to start athletics has come completely from her & she has been influenced so positively by our wonderful ladies on Team GB!