Quote Originally Posted by Mr1470 View Post
Interesting about youngsters. I fully understand the need for the rules set, a young person's development is very fragile and can be damaged by overdoing it. Of course, there will always be the odd youngster who has been running off-road for quite a while, has developed necessary muscles and could do the race....but the rules have to be set for the majority.

Here's an interesting question though...what do you do if, having refused entry to a race to a junior, they turn up anyway and decide to run the course?!? It's a free country and we can't really stop them....but do you then feel some (any) responsibility for their safety?
I don't think there is anything you can do there, just ask them to avoid the finishing funnel. The bottom line is its kids who want to run, which is brilliant obviously, so there should be a balance between encouraging them and looking after them whilst protecting the sport. You don't want to threaten them with bans and the such like or expose them to the bureaucracy of the sport; which admittedly may be necessary at some levels but I think we should let kids get as old as possible before letting them know that running isn't just about running..