Running faster?

nicolina823
nicolina823 Posts: 450 Member
edited September 30 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,
My stepson is getting ready for football try outs. He has always been overweight. At the age of 12 he weighed more than me. When he reached 170 we put our foot down and he's stayed with us most of the weeks since then. He has lost a ton of weight and is eating better now.

He has never been an active kid. It's like pulling teeth to get him off of the couch. We go on walks a lot as a family but because he has never played sports this football camp is killing him.

Can anyone suggest what we can do to help him with his running??? The coach said it was like watching slow motion to my fiance.

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    Hi,
    My stepson is getting ready for football try outs. He has always been overweight. At the age of 12 he weighed more than me. When he reached 170 we put our foot down and he's stayed with us most of the weeks since then. He has lost a ton of weight and is eating better now.

    He has never been an active kid. It's like pulling teeth to get him off of the couch. We go on walks a lot as a family but because he has never played sports this football camp is killing him.

    Can anyone suggest what we can do to help him with his running??? The coach said it was like watching slow motion to my fiance.
    He just has to be consistent with it. Like any other skill, it improves with consistent repetition.
  • AZTrailRunner
    AZTrailRunner Posts: 1,199 Member
    1. Get involved with a running club or a running coach.
    2. Hang out over at RunnersWorld.com. Lots of great articles over there.
    3. Diet that extra weight away as it is only slowing him down and making the job harder and more miserable.
    4. Short sprints with lots of recovery time will help build up his quickness. Long runs will build up his endurance.
  • bbush18
    bbush18 Posts: 207 Member
    Running faster and longer is something that comes with doing it FREQUENTLY. Training properly and good equipment (i.e. SHOES.) People tend to neglect their shoes when they run and then question their injuries...stay hydrated! :) Good luck to you and your family--hope his football season goes well! :)
  • Sadie98072
    Sadie98072 Posts: 212 Member
    It is so nice to hear someone so invested in their step-child!
    Typically the advice I would give is: run more, mostly easy, sometimes fast. Because of his age you might need some more specific advice though?
    Have a look at www.runningahead.com.au . I know I have seen similar topics in their forums there before. Its a really supportive community and you guys will probably get lots of good information off it.
    Good luck xx
  • Thamantha
    Thamantha Posts: 102 Member
    Maybe finding an exercise which doesn't feel like exercise would help him improve his overall fitness, which in the long run would help his ability to run (and his health).
    When I was a kid I hated any kind of school sports. I didn't see the point in any game that involved chasing a ball, whacking a ball with a stick, getting a ball through a hoop, etc. What I did love was climbing. I really enjoy rock climbing, and that helped me to become fitter. I run faster now because i gained confidence by doing something i actually enjoyed and becoming good at it. Maybe he would too?
  • nicolina823
    nicolina823 Posts: 450 Member
    Thank you for all of your answers. I was thinking couch to 5k. We'll be doing a lot of reading tonight and tomorrow.
  • corpus_validum
    corpus_validum Posts: 292 Member
    We're talking about football right?!?!

    C25K, running club, etc. is for distance training more so than speed training. Football requires short bursts of explosive speed, and the ability to change directions in an instant. Completely opposite of 5K, marathon running. He should be training like sprinters (100m).

    HIIT exercise like uphill sprints may improve his explosiveness and speed. Also look up football sprint exercises like killers.

    Football also calls for a lot of side-to-side movement, so shuffles and cross-overs should be incorporated. For fitness/endurance, he should also be doing burpees and mountain climbers along with some relevant weight training like squat clean and jerk as well as sled pushing.

    That's just a start but I'm sure his football practices will already incorporate a lot of the above.

    Here's a basic article on speed training exercises:
    http://www.ehow.com/way_5278212_speed-training-exercises.html
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