less time to train

In order to maintain your energy, you're going to have to eat really well. Make sure you are eating at least 5 times a day: breakfast snack lunch snack dinner (optional evening snack, which you might need) Get plenty of whole carbs--sweet potatos, brown rice, corn, oatmeal (not instant), green and colorful vegetables, whole wheat pastas, etc. Also, clean proteins--lean red meats, poultry, protein shakes make for good snacks, etc. To be tip top, eliminate some sugary foods, and other junk--because it will only bring you down. The snacks need to be power foods--not a bag of Doritos. Shakes, protein bars, etc are really good choices, and easy to manage because they're quick to eat, and easy to carry along. In your XC, I don't know what kind of milage you're doing...but surly it's not like training for a marathon. I'm assuming it's a good deal of speed training coupled with (what I consider) middle distances--6 to 8 miles or so. If you don't eat well, you won't make it. But, since you're young, you can do it, if you're smart and prepare. Also, since you're running pretty hard, you could trim down the swimming a bit--and go for quality. I'm sure others will really disagree with this--but the running is an excellent partner to your swimming. So, don't be afraid of loosing what you've gained--you'll be fine. In general, it is important that you are training for competition...not training for training. So, all that you do should be for the efforts of competition...there are plenty of people out there training with great volume for Tri's and what not. It can be done--but you're going to have to eat and sleep. Otherwise, it's a recipe for injury. Good luck in your season. Jerrycat ;)

In order to maintain your energy, you're going to have to eat really well. Make sure you are eating at least 5 times a day: breakfast snack lunch snack dinner (optional evening snack, which you might need) Get plenty of whole carbs--sweet potatos, brown rice, corn, oatmeal (not instant), green and colorful vegetables, whole wheat pastas, etc. Also, clean proteins--lean red meats, poultry, protein shakes make for good snacks, etc. To be tip top, eliminate some sugary foods, and other junk--because it will only bring you down. The snacks need to be power foods--not a bag of Doritos. Shakes, protein bars, etc are really good choices, and easy to manage because they're quick to eat, and easy to carry along. In your XC, I don't know what kind of milage you're doing...but surly it's not like training for a marathon. I'm assuming it's a good deal of speed training coupled with (what I consider) middle distances--6 to 8 miles or so. If you don't eat well, you won't make it. But, since you're young, you can do it, if you're smart and prepare. Also, since you're running pretty hard, you could trim down the swimming a bit--and go for quality. I'm sure others will really disagree with this--but the running is an excellent partner to your swimming. So, don't be afraid of loosing what you've gained--you'll be fine. In general, it is important that you are training for competition...not training for training. So, all that you do should be for the efforts of competition...there are plenty of people out there training with great volume for Tri's and what not. It can be done--but you're going to have to eat and sleep. Otherwise, it's a recipe for injury. Good luck in your season. Jerrycat ;)