It is acknowledged that we lose juniors as they go up to seniors but is this at a greater rate than other sports? How many thousand get scouted for football teams but how many make it through to professional ranks or even to serious non-league.
I think that many keep running, but actually consider themselves as a participant in another sport. The 'fun' footballer who goes out for a run a couple of times a week but considers themselves a footballer. As stated on the other thread by i think felljunior, quite a few medals at elite level in mountain running and team medals to, we can't be doing too much wrong. Are we as coaches wanting too much? Not implied as a criticism of anybody at any club, but is this an unconscious thought that we have?
I do feel sorry for little biara though, she seems to have inherited my speed!! Her aim at pendle this year, to actually get over the gate before all the others have come down the other way.