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Hey all you runners!!
So my son LOVES running. He asked me to join running club at his elementary school with him (most of the moms walk briskly while the kids run, because we have to go to work from running club). There is a teacher who is a runner that leads the group, and we meet every Friday morning, do stretches and then run laps around the school yard for 20-25 minutes. This morning, ds did a mile and a half -- which I think is great for a 5 year old. Most of the kids that did that distance were the 4th and 5th graders.
My question is, what should I know about running as a sport? At what age do kids start doing 3Ks or 5Ks -- he hears the bigger kids talk about them and wants to do one? I know he's only 5, but is there something I should look for in shoes that he runs in? I just want to be sure I encourage him to do this right if he wants to do it. I have bad arthritis in my knees and hips from 25 years of dancing, so I am super sensitive about joint issues.
Re: Hey all you runners!!
Love that your son is getting in to running!!! I think it's great that you are encouraging it too!!
I'm a runner/ triathlete so my kids were part of my workout when they were younger. My son did his first triathlon when he was 7! He LOVED it! He ran his first 5K when he was 10. My daughter was 9... she walked/ ran the whole thing. My son is now 16 and had completed 2 half marathons before he turned 15 (you have to be 14 in order to run a half) and more 5ks than I can count. My daughter has run 2-3 5Ks and has goals of running a half with me this year!
My advice is let him run a 5k if he wants to. He can always walk when he needs to..... but the sense of pride will be awesome for him! When my kids wanted to run one, I never worried about staying with them (they are so much faster than me anyway!!) but with so many people around, I felt like it was safe. We just met up at the finish line!
Shoes... I would suggest getting him a good pair of Asics to run in. Just something simple... he should be fine! Enjoy!!!!!
I think that's awesome he's expressing interest in running!! I coach 3rd-5th graders in running and we have them train for a 5k, but I don't know much about younger in regards to growth issues, etc for running to far for their age.
I DO know about shoes. Make sure to get him properly fitted RUNNINg shoes, vs. training shoes, etc. Don't go to a local sporting goods store and just pick something out. Make sure they are running shoes as the support is different than training, general "sport" shoes and kids feet are constatly growing so the proper cushioning/support is needed!
There's a New Balance store near our house. Are they good for running shoes?
Yes! NB is very good...they'll be able to find something for him, I'm sure!
Fantastic. Thank you! We used to shop for his shoes at NB when he was younger because his feet were so wide. They were the only ones that fit him right for a while.