I have recently turned 15, 16th march was the day if your interested, and i would like to know if i am to young to be training for a 10 mile race. I recently ran my first 10km in 51 minutes 13 seconds with my dad. I would like to run a 10 mile when i'm 16 and many more 10km over the next year. I'm not sure if i am to young to be doing 3-6 runs a week doing anything from 3 miles onwards a time. I believe i am nearing my adulthood heigh as i'm 5"8 at the moment, my brother is 6 foot and so is my dad. I am not sure if running like i would like to be would cause my knees and joints damage at my age!!! Can anyone tell me if doing the training i would like to do would cause me damage.

Thanks everyone, hope to get a few replys to help me.

p.s. i would also like to point out that someones when i run i get very tight calfs... they don't seem to lossen up like all my other muscles... i don't stretch or do a warmup, i just get running.

Firstly, I'm 19 now and doing marathon distance. When I was about your age I did probably about 8 mile runs once or twice a week. I don't *think* it messed me up in any way.

Second, there are a few issues that can arise with training too young -
Bone/joint injury, from soft bones. Same reason juniors shouldn't use weights.
Slow muscle growth.
For want of a more scientific analysis, weird effects on the endocrine system.

The muscle and endocrine issuses can be avoided simply by not overtraining. I'd say no more than 3 times a week would probably avoid this. And as long as you have a proper pair of running shoes I reckon bone problems are unlikely at that intensity. And just use your brain - if you get knee pain, take time off until it's (completely) gone.

Thirdly, if you're getting calf pain then do warm up, do stretch off slightly beforehand and thoroughly afterwards. There's a good chance that they'll build in such a way that it's not a problem any more.

If in doubt, check with a doctor/school sports coach/etc.

Edit: jimweber makes a good point below about diet. Given your age and the demands of any amount of running, I'd suggest you go for as much as g of protein per kg body mass every day. That's eating 0.2% of your body mass in protein each day.

She is getting ready for her first half marathon. I think stretching is very important and there are some great running books out there to read on training. Good luck.

I'm 16, and I ran my first marathon when I was 15. When I was 14, I ran a half marathon every other weekend to keep myself in shape. I only had trouble with my quads once because they were too weak, but I quickly fixed that with some retro running. But, if you feel good doing it, then go for it! Just don't push yourself too hard.

 Best of luck!

Just thought I would impose my opinion as well.  I would agree with JimArnold with the "use your brain" comment.  The fact that your even concerned enough to get others opinions points to the fact that your a smart person to begin with.  I'm not a doctor either, so use your discretion.  My opinion is that most of the health problems with young runners mostly stem from the inability to know when they need to back off.  If you overdo it, or push through pain your really just slowing down your progress.  There are some good books on running out there, the best thing you can do for yourself is to read up on signs of over training.  Runner's World and their website both have a lot of good information on training, and beginning running.  Get to know your schools athletic trainer, if they have one.  They are a wealth of information and the best thing you can do is to follow their advice when injured.  You'll be back on the road faster if you treat yourself right and take care of yourself.  A good diet is also a good idea.  Above all else, keep it fun!  Good luck!   

Many conditions (e.g. Osgood-Schlatters) are almost exclusively found in athletic adolescence so I would advise you to be cautious...

http://www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk/teens/health/conditions/o/osgood-schlatters_disease.html

My opionin is that if you are going to run you must understand that sometimes you need the rest and take more than you think is enough. I did not start all races in CC in my senior year because of injury but was easily able to finsh the marathon and now train again.

S

First there is the age when you started to run or do other sports. I started to run at 6 and ran my first 10 km at 12. So when I began to run longer distances, 10 miles and more, I had done already a few competition races. I guess you must at least have a year or more training and competition experience to begin with longer distances.

If you're ready for it, don't push yourself to it. Run by feeling and not by time. If you're first one is succesful, than you can try to improve your finishing time.

Also take a look at you're running shoes. It can be that your calfs are tight because of the wearing of you're shoes. I can advise you to go to a good runningshop. In Belgium, qualityfull runningshops are always ready to analyse your way of running with a footscan, video material... as a free service.

Some runners aren't made to run long distances. Running long distances can be considered as a sort of adaptation of body and mind to this kind of activities. If you run from one injury into another, I advise you to run shorter distances

grtz

 I would say to you as long as when you're running/training, if you can always end each session/race and feeling you could have given it more you are on the right track.

 I do not see a problem at all running 10 miles. Please see the article below that new research has found by these tribes in mexico it is kind a something we already knew all along the way the more expensive running shoes the more injury is there. They properly start very young (Tarahumara runner).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html

Very interesting reading (so look out for five finger running shoes.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ (this link was found from Google (five finger running shoes). They are a bit pricy but well worth it.

As a last thing stretching out I don't believe so much but more of a smooth approach so it feels easy try different running styles. The soar calf's properly comes more from the shoes rather as you properly land on your heal instead of the middle of the foot. But read the article very good. Last but not least if you can incorporate some cycling on other days where you are not running that would be very good but do it in small gears high cadence to help loosen up those muscles. If you want to be really good to yourself those massage machines (handheld) ex. Ogawa with a long shaft hold at the end of the shaft and massage your long running legs particular Calf's that'll help as well. 

Runners wearing top-of-the-line trainers are 123 per cent more likely to get injured than runners in cheap ones. 

Best regards

Cooledit

But at 10 km I had 47:31 and I don't think that I'm too young to run these distances

Sorry for my English, it's not good enought(I'm from Poland :P)

Grettings

One regret, ever since upping my mileage too quickly (20 mpw->30 mpw->40 mpw) in three consecutive weeks, I've had knee problems since.

I also have bad arches (they are high and collapse) although orthotics solve the problem.

If you train properly you will be fine.

 I am currently training for a half ironman and will do a full next year.

The key was, I had help.  My neighbour (who got me into running) was a well-respected Doctor who always helped me design my training.  When my running got more serious, we sought out the help of a professional coach, just to make sure we weren't making any mistakes.

So all in all, that's the best advice I can give.  Make Sure.  Consult with a professional to assure that everything is ok, and it will be.  Cheers & Good luck.