Welsch Sisters Running Controversy

Or is it not a controversy at all?

Yes, I know I haven't been posting much lately...

Trying to write a novel this month, remember?

But I did think this was interesting:

Kaytlynn and Heather Welsch, 12 and 10 years old respectively, are good little runners. Emphasis on the "little." They're running marathons, half marathons, trail races - combined, the two girls have run over 160 races in the last two year. That's a LOT of racing, for anyone, of any age. They seem to enjoy it and they both do well at school, so where's the harm?

Well, I don't like the sheer number of races. I don't mind running for children, even longer distances, but racing is different. You're going harder in a race, you're stressing your body more, you're setting yourself up for injury, short-term or long-term. These girls should not be racing 160 races in two years. That's insane.

Also, not crazy about some of the comments made by the father. He can say he's not forcing them to run all he wants, but at times, it sure sounds like he's forcing them to run.

-Check out the fantastic article at the New York Times.

-Here's a brief article on Yahoo.

-Here's an XTERRA article about Kaytlynn winning a race.

-Do the trolls at LetsRun.com have an opinion on this. Of course they do!

So what do you think? Too young? Too much?

Or much ado over nothing?


Hey, there's Max King, right beside Kaytlynn, in the photo! Photo credit to XTERRA from the Yahoo article.