How to get my kid to run

Maybe go running with him? Or, if it's "not cool" to run with mom, is there a male figure like dad, uncle, cousin, family friend, that could run or do pick up games with him? If it's a fun, social activity with someone he wants to spend time with, that might get him interested.

If you have a smartphone, there's an app called Zombies, Run! (or something similar) where zombies will "chase" you. He might consider that fun.

Chase him with a huge paddle????

Does his team do basketball drills during practice? I can understand the "not like running" thing, I didn't like it when I was younger either. Give me sports ANY day. Could also be because my mom told me I was fat and I needed to walk/run like she did. lol You don't mention how old he is, but it sounds like he likes being part of a team, maybe *he* could start something like conditioning training so that his team plays better? It's not running or working out if it's called Conditioning Training. Right?

Instead of trying to force him to do what you like, encourage him to do activities that he likes. Some people just do not like to run, if you keep on him you will push him further away from fitness all together. Best of luck to you.

Why do you want him to run if he doesn't like it and he's already doing sports? If he's overweight, ask him how he wants to address the problem. He's already exercising. Maybe it's his diet.

Tie him to the back of your vehicle and drive at a reasonable pace.

The beatings will continue until morale improves......

First off address the overweight problem - that's due to diet not lack of running ability.
Then let the kid do the sports he wants to do and enjoys.

bump for ideas..

If you have a smartphone, there's an app called Zombies, Run! (or something similar) where zombies will "chase" you. He might consider that fun.

This is so cool! Thanks for recommending this app! What a great idea

Most of the kids I know LOVE to sign up for 5Ks. The thought of getting out there and running in a big group with a timer and all is encouraging. Even more interest if it is a mud run or color run or something similar. I know that around my area there is a 5K or fun run of some kind almost every weekend.

How much is he eating that he is playing all these sports and still overweight. Have you had him checked by a doctor? If there is no medical problem, you might want to consider diet changes rather than trying to force him to run.

But, you could also just tell him you are not going to continue to pay for sports unless he is willing to practice them, since practice would include running.

My son hates to run and was always slow at running the bases. We signed him up for speed and agility classes and he loved them. He's faster and stronger. Check out the places in your area that have hitting and pitching lessons. They are the ones that usually have the speed and agility classes and they aren't too expensive because it's group training, not one on one. He may find that more enjoyable than just going out to run.

Can you get him to talk about why he hates to run so much? It seems very odd that he loves sports but is willing to sacrifice success in sports that he "loves" just to avoid the running that is an inevitable part of almost every sport. Did someone make fun of him for sweating, and he associates running with getting sweaty or something? If he's actually consistently overweight and not just gaining weight before a growth spurt, maybe running chafes somewhere (like his privates) that he is too embarrassed to talk about? Did someone tell him that he is "too slow" and he thinks that avoiding running will prevent that criticism? There is an obvious fault in his logic somewhere, if you can get him to talk about what he likes about the sports he likes and then ease around to the subject of why he doesn't like running even as a part of the sports he likes maybe you can find out more.

Also, if he plays sports all the time but is still overweight, then you probably need to overhaul his diet. A child who is healthy (no thyroid problems or bloating medications) and active has to be putting in a lot of excess calories to be overweight, and a child can't overhaul his diet by himself. Don't nag, but make sure the whole family is eating lighter, make sure he is drinking mostly just water instead of drinking lots of calories, pack healthy sandwiches so you aren't eating fast food while running to all those practices, etc. You sound like you are really involved with your kids and are making a lot of good choices in keeping them active, which is great! Making sure that he knows that the fuel he puts in is a key to his success in sports may help him too.

Instead of trying to force him to do what you like, encourage him to do activities that he likes. Some people just do not like to run, if you keep on him you will push him further away from fitness all together. Best of luck to you.

^ This. In all reality, it probably doesn't matter in the long run whether he runs or plays basketball or baseball. The important thing is that he gets and stays active.