Competitive Training & Racing

Lightning offers the opportunity to compete in USA-TF & AAU. Lightning offers the tools and trains youth to develop the mental and physical training to be an elite runner or organized practices and training development every six months.  

All runners can improve with proper training. It depends on the youth and the family how much progress they want to see. If runners and families are interested in seeing significant results, training at least four days per week for six months is recommended. The runners’ results and improvement are based on the amount of training invested. If one runner only comes to practice two or three times per week or less, the results and outcomes will be a lot less than a runner who comes to practice four or five times per week for six months. At Lightning, parents and runners decide the outcomes they want to get by the end of the season. Lightning competes in local and national meets. All the youth have the option to compete in local meets. Runners compete individually or as a team depending on the season or sport of cross country or track and field.

In Track and Field (January to June), runners compete in USA-TF track meets and local races. Track is an individual sport and the results depend on each runner's performance in each event and division. If runners are at the top of their age division, they have the opportunity to move from the association, regional and national meets. 

In Cross-Country (July to December) is a team sport. Runners compete against other local and national running teams and clubs. If the team is well advanced for each division, teams can race in association, regional and national meets. The national meets every year in a different state around the United States.  

Age Divisions Teams:

*5-6 years old:  

*7-8 years old: 

*9-10 years old:  

*11-12 years old: 

*13-14 years old: 

*15-16 years old: