Junior runners are generally split into age and gender graded events for interclub competition: boys and girls U10, U12, U14, U16; where age is based on the runner’s age on the 31st December in the year of competition.
For club runs, junior runners run as one or more packs and will typically do a mix of running and fun, competitive training during the Saturday running session.
Coaching
First session for 2024 season: Monday 8th April
HVH offers coaching for junior runners on Monday afternoons from 4pm to 5pm throughout the season.
We have a skilled coach, Owen Westerhout, to lead these sessions and junior runners are sure to learn a lot from him, from warming up and running drills to getting the most out of their running.
These sessions meet at our club rooms at the Petone Recreation Ground.
Parent support
Junior Harriers is not a “drop off” activity. Because a lot of our pack runs involve road crossings and kids getting tired we do require parent help/involvement with the juniors. We would appreciate parents being available to their kids just in case they are needed.
We want to make the season as interesting as possible for our juniors, but we need the support of parents to make this happen. If you can run, please let us know if you’re willing to support the pack during one or more sessions throughout the season.
Even if you can’t run, you can help by providing ideas and support for runs that make the junior season more satisfying. With the right level of support, we can offer:
- Mystery runs, as well as pack runs. Have you got a good idea for a safe and challenging run that our junior packs should attempt?
- Club runs as one or more packs. Typically 20-40 minutes long with warmups, cool-downs, drills and relays to keep it interesting.
- Stretching after running – can you help to provide a yoga/stretching session at the end of the run?
- We will be roping in some of the running parents to help take sessions with the juniors (nothing hard).
