Children Running?

wildhehr2

My 7 year old ran a 5k earlier this month in 28:46. He ran last year, finishing in 34:36. Our personal rules are that you have to be 6 to run the 5k (son #2 will run his first next year), just because of the cost. We do "training runs" where we cover the distance without a time goal, and work up to completing it in an hour. If they do an actual race, they'll go much faster.

BTW, both my sons had heart surgery. Their cardiologist cleared them for activity...but said to make sure they are well hydrated, the weather isn't overly hot/humid, they have good shoes, and they go at THEIR pace, not mine. They run for 15-20 minutes 3x a week at school, so we just do the long distance once a week. My 7 year old is already begging to do the 20k race, but we told him he needs to be at least 10, again, just due to the cost.

As long as they enjoy it more than hate it, go for it.

duplicitous

My daughter is four. She stretches with me and does a few calisthetics. I have hoped to get her to run with me. I just worry that some fool idiot out there will thinkit is child abuse if they see her running with me and think that I am making her run. That would be a sad moment. I would never force my child to run but I do hope she will want to.

holliph

I started both of my boys running with me when they were 4 years old each...now 14 & 11.
They both do a 5k a week with me.
The oldest has been in track & cross country since 5th grade competing at an 8th grade level (been to state 3x's & come home with ribbons & trophies each time)
My youngest does not want to compete, but loves to run. He will run with me each day that is a run day. Very proud of him for staying motivated.
Each Wednesday we do a fun run with our park district that you can either do a 1k or 5k run/walk. Both turds finished several minutes before me. (So much for being taller & having longer legs).

So I would say as you start out, start your kids out. Kids are very resilient. You will be amazed at how much farther & faster they will be able to run over our (aged) muscles. (Also they might sleep so much better at night.) Mine sure did when they used to have issues with falling asleep & staying asleep.

Just be smart about the heat/humidity index when you go. Pack plenty of water...stay away from the sugary energy drinks.
Hope this helps.

DG_Allen

This is great! I say go for it.

If you run a race, just make sure you're in the back of the pack. I almost ran a 4 or 5 year old over on Saturday at the start of a 5k race. The Dad have him in the under 30 minute group and it was a pretty tight course.

ROBJ3411

There's a woman in my neighborhood who runs in the street while her kids ride their bikes on the sidewalk. I can't wait until my kids can bike!

I do this with my 6 yo. I run and she rides her bike..We are also getting her into running she has done a few kids Miles and we are signing her up for a kids marathon(run 25 miles over a period of time and run the last mile as a fun run prior to the adult race). But I don't think she could keep up over any big distance.

Another technique we use is to bring them to a track and let them run or ride on the track while you get your run in. I had my 2 yo doing sprints last week. give him a head start on his tricycle and try to "Catch him" he got a blast and I got a work out. My kids have taken to the fitness thing.

mgraue82

I understand your problem here. I think you can incorporate exercise into their day in a variety of ways BUT I am going to come at this from a different angle. I am a teacher and a fellow teacher had a problem with her planning period always being taken up with kids needing to "make up a test" or whatever... My advice to her was that she was going to have to establish a schedule when they did this on HER terms.

Without down time, we wear ourselves out and we cannot be all that we can be for our children. My suggestion is to be firm with bedtime or a settling down time and don't fall into the guilt trap. You do not owe them every waken hour of your time.. You have to have some time to recharge or in the end, you will not be able to hold out... You have to have time to unwind and deal with things that YOU need ... whether it is exercise or just talking to your husband. When you lack this time in your life, the resulting stress can cause you to be less than you can be... And the boundaries will actually do your 7 year old some good... you run your house... not your children... And bedtime is just that...

Of course when a child is sick or has special needs, there are times we have to just "suck it up" and deal with it. If the child is healthy, it is ok for him to be told, "honey, there are some things mommy needs to do right now and it is your bedtime". Hope this helps.

In tears in a good way... THANK YOU! I needed to hear that!

mgraue82

My daughter is four. She stretches with me and does a few calisthetics. I have hoped to get her to run with me. I just worry that some fool idiot out there will thinkit is child abuse if they see her running with me and think that I am making her run. That would be a sad moment. I would never force my child to run but I do hope she will want to.

I was very worried that is where my "post" would end up.. People bashing me for asking about this, however I am very pleasantly surprised and my heart could burst from all the well wishing, pointers, and kinds words from everyone!

mgraue82

Why not get up super early in the morning? Ya, it sucks and is hard to do...................

I'm working on this. I have a special needs son as well who ALWAYS has to be with an adult and when he's not under nursing care my husband or I need to be here - so we're trying to figure out schedules for my husband and I both to get in workout time - we have let ourselves go big time after this baby was born, due to stress and worry about him. So now we're taking the bull by the horns!

mgraue82

******THANK YOU ALL****** I never expected this kind of response much less how POSITIVE a response from everyone. I truly appreciate all of the information and past experience you've all given me and feel so good about this. I know he will be excited to know that he gets to share this one on one time with me as well.

SHOES??? How did you all pick out shoes for the kids? Would you take them to a running store or just to foot locker and get shoes? Just want to make sure that he's ready to go

Again thank you all so so much! Big stress reliever!

nwhitley

Yes your children can run with you!! My son is almost 13 and has run with me since about age 3 or 4. He ran his first 5k at 5. In May, he ran his longest distance- 15K- and beat me by 12 minutes. Last year, when he was in 7th grade he joined the high school xcountry and track team and is one of the fastest runners on the xcountry team. The last track meet of the year he PRed in the 1600 with a time of 5:23. Happy running!

junipuni

******THANK YOU ALL****** I never expected this kind of response much less how POSITIVE a response from everyone. I truly appreciate all of the information and past experience you've all given me and feel so good about this. I know he will be excited to know that he gets to share this one on one time with me as well.

SHOES??? How did you all pick out shoes for the kids? Would you take them to a running store or just to foot locker and get shoes? Just want to make sure that he's ready to go

Again thank you all so so much! Big stress reliever!

Honestly, I never thought about the shoes aspect! I generally get them shoes that are pretty decent and ones that they find comfortable. A lot of time I stick to the same style/brand as they move up in sizes because I already know they like them and find them comfortable. I don't know that I would get my kids running shoes at their age but maybe if they were on a track team in a few years I definitely would.

It really is hard to find the balance. I do understand needing time to be alone and recharge and make sure to get that. But I also want my family to be healthy and fit, not just me, so I really want to get the kids involved at a young age. I think as long as they are having fun and enjoying it, it's all good!