Marathon by the Sea featured high school age runners this year. Race Director David Baxter patterned his training program for these kids after a similar program with the Los Angeles Marathon. From a coaching standpoint, I certainly would have aligned myself traditionally with those discouraging younger runners from doing higher mileage and emphasizing shorter and faster distances instead. However, after witnessing the emotional benefits derived from the experience for these runners, I believe the benefits from a carefully managed training program outweigh the potential risks. It's not for everyone and young adults hoping to compete should still refrain from the marathon. David was not trying to take runners from a track club but rather young adults who needed a nice shot of self confidence and a sense of discipline.