The Youth and Teen Running Encyclopedia A Complete Guide for Middle And Long Distance Runners Ages 6 to 18

by Mick Grant, John Molvar

The Youth And Teen Running Encyclopedia is the first ever complete guide for middle and distance runners ages 6 to 18 and their coaches and parents. It shows the proven formula of Mick Grant, which produced National Champions several years in a row from a group of ordinary local kids, near Mick's home in Northeast Massachusetts, who asked him to be their coach. The book lays out in detail how youth and teen athletes and their coaches or parents can take them to successively higher levels, year after year, after year, following the proven success of Mick's training program. What differentiates this program and this book from other programs and books is that it is a unique blend of building endurance and improving basic speed throughout the year, so that the athlete is much better next year than they are this year. The program uses a FUN FIRST approach, making sure the athlete is enjoying what they are doing, and staying healthy to allow consistent training. It is the first such book to cover every topic imaginable for the youth and teen middle/distance runner, jammed packed with over 225 pages of vital information. This book is a must read for all youth runners age 6 to 18, and anyone helping youth runners starting on the way to a life long enjoyment of running, and a successful running career, including youth runners, parents of youth runners, youth runner club coaches, and high school coaches. While this book is geared to youth runners, it is a valuable resource to all middle and distance runners and coaches, regardless of age or level, because the same basic principles apply to all middle and distances runners.

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 4, 2014

About the author

Over 30 years coaching experience.
Coached Hershey's North American Final qualifiers 12 consecutive years, including 4 National Champs.
Coached at least one National Champ 6 consecutive years, including 3 consecutive Junior Olympic National Champs in 4 x 800 relay.
Coached 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier.

Reviews

[Tracy Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read all the Lydiard books - and coach high school cross country and track - this book makes the most sense of any contemporary training program/philosophy I have read. (And I try to read as much as I can about training young runners) - nothing has made more sense and been more practical than this book. If you coach youth running ages 7-17 or if you have or are a young runner - you HAVE to read this book.

[Alexander Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of great advice and presents a practical, applicable approach to Lydiard-type training. Unfortunately, "Encyclopedia" is a misnomer. There is no way this could be used as a reference book. The formatting is distracting and confusing. Each chapter reads like a transcript to a powerpoint presentation, complete with random bold text, italics, and all caps. Still, there's so many gold nuggets of coaching advice in here (even if you have to dig for them) that it will stay on my shelf.

[Brian Longbotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, practical book for getting the team up and running. I especially liked the rationale on breaking the season into sections and the aerobic / anaerobic goals for each.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and simple. This book will not leave my side going into the next cross country season. Excited to put Lydiard's principles into action and keep running fun yet professional quality. A great read that I will recommend to parents as well.

[Jerald Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 comment
I read this book 4 years ago. I plan to read it again. It has great tips for teaching running to young people, and these translate well to adults. It is for coaches, but adult runners can find it helpful for themselves.

[Kate Remme · Rating 4 out of 5]

great advice, but could use some editing.

[Deana Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is great for kids, parents and coaches

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

really great