Young female runners experiencing Puberty
Too often are young women told that they are slow, too heavy, or that they will never be to where they once were when they hit Puberty. I, unfortunately, experienced this my Sophomore year in high school. As a freshman, I received numerous college letters out of the gate. Winning races and running under 18-min on multiple courses, I was often written about in newspapers and running articles as someone to "keep an eye on" and who had a "promising future." I had played soccer most of my life and started competing in track and field in middle school. In 8th grade, I ran 5:20 for the mile and 10:37 for the 3k (pretty stout for the early 2000s). From there, high school cross country came naturally, and before I knew it, I realized that I could get my college tuition paid for if I kept it up.
little freshman me tearing it up in my first xc race in high school (Laguna Beach Invite - 2005)
Then came Sophomore year, and Puberty hit. I had actual boobs, my clothing didn't fit, and I was always crying about something. All of which was somewhat expected, but what wasn't was running much slower, averaging 90 seconds slower per course. And, it wasn't long before I started feeling confused, lost, and defeated.
This was my least favorite time in the sport, and I am not surprised why. Some told me that I was "washed up" and "would never be as fast as my freshman self." And as a vulnerable 15-year-old, it was easy for me to start believing them. Luckily for me, when I did give in, I had people in my court that convinced me not to listen and to keep at it because there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
An example that sticks out is when I asked for new clothes because my old ones didn't fit. My mom and I were in the department changing room when I noted how the shorts I was trying on were a couple of sizes up from what I had at home. She responded said, "yes, well, your womanly body is different, and you need clothes that fit that strong body." I remember hearing the word strong and woman in the same sentence and immediately went from defeated to feeling like a new shiny penny. Equally memorable was my coach regularly reminding me that my best days were still ahead of me and that I would prove all those people who were doubting me wrong and that my new body would enable me to do things that my old body couldn't.
These were the best moments, and luckily I had enough of them sprinkled across this journey of frustration to get me through. I can't imagine if I didn't have such important people in my life cheering me on; I honestly doubt I would have kept running.
Flash-forward to my senior year and things had come to fruition. I ended the year with a handful of new records and helped lead our team to a 2nd place finish at SS-Div1 XC finals and a 4th place finish at state. I even placed 9th overall and was the 2nd fastest senior at the XC Div 1 meet that year, running under 18min on the famous Woodpark course.
Looking back, it's evident why most girls quit when they hit Puberty. Here are three things that I think can help change this...
EDUCATION: Knowledge is compelling both for young women and those around them. How do you expect to be the best coach if you don't know the types of things your female athlete s are dealing with? As a parent with a passionate young runner under their belts, can you share stories of badasses in the sport who have experienced the same thing? Can you name a few benefits that come with Puberty for female athletes? Equipping yourself for a thought-provoking and inspiring conversation with a struggling female athlete can be the difference between them continuing in the sport or choosing a different path.
CHEERLEADERS: Having a network of friends and family who will be there for you is essential. If you know a young female athlete going through Puberty, consider checking in with them and getting a pulse on how they are doing. As I mentioned, I luckily had my parents and folks at my school who made a point to do this, and it was their proactiveness that helped me the most. All girls will go through this at some point in their life, and being there for them emotionally will prepare them for what is to come.
WOMEN MENTORS: The presence of women mentors in the sport is vital. My high school coach was a fantastic guy, but he would probably be the first to admit that we were fortunate to have had an extraordinary team of moms who showed up for everything, my mom included. Having them there as a part of the process was a big reason why my team found success. They were there for the periods, breakdowns, and more, and having someone you can trust as a female during those vulnerable moments is essential for building self-confidence. Whether it's a coach or a team parent, a little female presence can go a long way.
This post was inspired by the Atlantic Article by Alexi Pappas that my friend Sam shared this morning.
