Fact or fiction – flow chart for youth participation in ultrarunning
A flow chart to aid in deciding if a youth athlete should participate in a specific ultra-endurance running event based on the athlete’s preparation, their psychological status and motivation, their age group and associated risk, and the type of race and associated risk. Image: Scheer, V., Costa, R. J., Doutreleau, S., Knechtle, B., Nikolaidis, P. T., Roberts, W. O., Stoll, O., S. Tenforde, A., & Krabak, B. (2021). Recommendations on youth participation in ultra-endurance running events: A consensus statement. Sports Medicine, 51(6), 1123–1135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01441-w (6)
Meghan Hicks is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar. She’s been running since she was 13 years old, and writing and editing about the sport for around 15 years. She served as iRunFar’s Managing Editor from 2013 through mid-2023, when she stepped into the role of Editor-in-Chief. Aside from iRunFar, Meghan has worked in communications and education in several of America’s national parks, was a contributing editor for Trail Runner magazine, and served as a columnist at Marathon & Beyond. She’s the co-author of Where the Road Ends: A Guide to Trail Running with Bryon Powell. She won the 2013 Marathon des Sables, finished on the podium of the Hardrock 100 Mile in 2021, and has previously set fastest known times on the Nolan’s 14 mountain running route in 2016 and 2020. Based part-time in Moab, Utah and Silverton, Colorado, Meghan also enjoys reading, biking, backpacking, and watching sunsets.
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