FSRC Spires Youth Running XC & Track (Ages 9-16)

Our spring running program will start on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. This season we will accept runners who are 9-16 years old, and we will cap registration based on our coaching staff. We will practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. one day a week at Baker Park, and other day at regional parks/tracks, usually within the city limits.

Note: for insurance reasons you must be a member of the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club to participate in this program. You can check if you are already an FSRC member at https://runsignup.com/Club/SearchForRenew/668. The price for a Junior membership is $10. New memberships will begin on the day you sign up and continue for 12 months. This registration must match the name in the club registration exactly, as well as the birth date.

NOTE: the price for the Spires program shows up as $50 but you will be given a $10 discount when you check out, making the resulting price $40 for FSRC club members. You must be a member during this program. If your child is already an FSRC member, if it expires before this program starts you will need to RENEW your membership. Please do so at https://runsignup.com/Club/SearchForRenew/668. If your child is not already an FSRC member, they need to join FSRC at https://runsignup.com/fsrc. This costs $10 per child, or there are family options. 

AGE RANGE OF PROGRAM:  The FSRC Spires Youth Running Program is open to children ages 9-16.  Ages should be 9 as of 12/31/26.

CONCEPT OF THE PROGRAM
The FSRC Spires Youth Running Program is somewhat unique because the emphasis is on learning the benefits of running as a fun and enjoyable means of lifetime fitness. This is different from programs that emphasize performance and competition. There is always gratification for kids that finish first, but this program tries to give every kid the opportunity to achieve and be recognized for simply how much they participate, learn, and improve.

Understand that some of our kids do go on to become competitive high school runners and do very well! But our goal is not to have them peak in the 8th grade. While they’re young, it should be about developing a great foundation of knowledge, technique, and base conditioning before they step into a rigorous school program.

For those that choose not to run for competition, they will still have gained the knowledge and approach to use running as a fitness tool for the rest of their lives!

DESCRIPTION OF CONDUCT
The programs are conducted during the Fall and Spring. The fall season program is more geared toward the sport of cross country and is conducted mostly in Frederick’s Baker Park primarily during the months of September and October. The spring season is more *slightly* more geared toward track but focuses on conditioning and encouraging the kids to build up to running a mile or 5k!

Kids will be grouped according to their ability and are supervised by the coaches who keep the kids together as a group for safety. The normal goal is for all participants to be confident in racing in a 5k race. The FSRC summer decathlon series starts as the Spire Spires session ends and allows for track racing for interested participants.

Kids of greater ability may do more, while kids that are new to this may just want to target one goal event toward the end of the season. Otherwise, there are also periodic timed events during the practices to measure their progress.

RULES OF BEHAVIOR
Kids should not eat dinner before coming to practice. Having a snack when they get home from school is recommended along with drinking water. Please have your child bring water to practice.

In order to maintain safety on group runs, the kids must demonstrate the ability to follow the instructions of the coaches. If they are not feeling well, they should not be forced to participate. Especially in the long group runs, we can’t have kids quitting in the middle as it creates a safety issue for them and the other children. So, if they don’t feel well or are injured, please keep them home.

We do allow for as much laughing, talking, and joking as can be permitted (because we want it to be fun) as long as kids generally follow the instructions they are given. Sportsmanship is also important. Runners should be supportive and encouraging to each other and never do anything to impede another runner in a race.

December 5, 2017
Frederick Spires Youth Running Club Receives RRCA 2017 Kids Run the Nation Grant

The Frederick Steeplechasers Spires Youth Running Program has been selected from over 300 applicants to receive a 2017 Kids Run the Nation grant.  The Road Runners Club of America Kids Run the Nation small grant program is geared towards helping to build new or existing, gender-inclusive, youth running clubs, focusing on participation and promoting a lifetime of fitness through running.

The Spires head coach, Trevor James, looks forward to using the grant to help grow the Spires program.  “This grant will help us with marketing and advertising our program to the local Frederick community, and help pay for track usage fees for our upcoming 2018 track season.  We will also use the funds for incentives and participation awards for our youth runners.  It’s an honor to be selected!”

The Frederick Steeplechasers Spires Youth Running Program currently has 30 youth members, girls and boys ages 7-14, and a volunteer coaching staff of five.  The program offers cross country in the fall, and track and field in the spring.  Twice-a-week practices focus on teaching developmentally-appropriate warm-ups, runs, conditioning, drills, and stretches.  During the fall cross country season, runners participate in 1000m to 5000m races, depending on age and experience.  The spring track season focuses on shorter distance track races including the 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 3000m.  The Spires are governed by the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club.

For more on the Spires, visit their Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/fsrcspires/.

For more on the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club visit their Web site at  https://steeplechasers.org/.

For more on the Kids Run the Nation program visit:  http://www.rrca.org/our-programs-services/programs/kids-run-the-nation