Training for 8 year old for 400 meters

Don't train her. An 8 year old should not be "training" for anything.

This is the time to be a parent, not a coach.

DanielSon wrote:

My daughter has a 1/4 run for school for the Presidential Fitness Test. To get Presidential, she has to run it in 1:50.

She plays soccer in the spring and fall, and basketball in the winter, so she's in good shape. I took her around the block the other day and covering the distance is no problem. Once I add some speed in to it, she bonks out pretty quickly.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to train her to run a 1/4 mile in 1:50? She's all for the training and really wants to get the time. She can run it in approximately 2:45 now.

Her first attempt at it will be in 4 weeks.

Are you serious? Maybe you should work on being her Dad and not her coach or sports agent.

You could do a ladder (100-200-400-200-100) with short rest intervals, or maybe something like 10 x 150 with 2 minute breaks.

Or the other thing you could do is lighten up and let an 8-year old be an 8-year old.

I agree with the ladder workout for someone so young but on the other hand, make sure that they have fun.

If she enjoys the workout, then there is no problem with it. There is no difference between doing a light workout with your daughter and practicing pitching or batting.

The key to this is make sure she is having fun and don't push her!!! DON'T PUSH HER!!!

Make sure there is TONS of positive reinforcement. Also a Popsicle or a trip to the ice cream place can be a good post workout warm-down.

i had to run a full mile (ok 1600) for the presidential fitness award when i was in third grade, i ran in the 7:30's. 1/4 mile?

Good for you.

Don't listen to the idiots on here. If your daughter wants to run a 1:50 400 and she is willing to train a little for it that's not a bad thing. As long as you aren't pushing and she is having fun there is nothing wrong with running a couple of days per week at 8 years old.

As for suggestions I would just have her go out and run a couple of times per week easy around the block. Maybe go a little longer each time. Start with the 1/4 mile. Then maybe a 1/2 mile the next time. Getting used to running is the first step. Next she will learn to push herself a little. It might not be a fitness thing right now as much as it is not wanting to be in discomfort or just not knowing HOW to run fast for that long. Have her run to a local park or school and play and then run back.

problemsolver wrote:

DanielSon wrote:

My daughter has a 1/4 run for school for the Presidential Fitness Test. To get Presidential, she has to run it in 1:50.

She plays soccer in the spring and fall, and basketball in the winter, so she's in good shape. I took her around the block the other day and covering the distance is no problem. Once I add some speed in to it, she bonks out pretty quickly.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to train her to run a 1/4 mile in 1:50? She's all for the training and really wants to get the time. She can run it in approximately 2:45 now.

Her first attempt at it will be in 4 weeks.

Are you serious? Maybe you should work on being her Dad and not her coach or sports agent.

Gosh, I'm sorry I'm such a bad dad. I guess I should stop coaching her basketball and soccer teams, along with any other dad or mom who coaches teams for kids that age. I mean, no 8 year old kids practice ANYTHING, not even baseball. Oh, the humanity!!!

Thanks, Slacker. I made it a point to mention that she enjoys it and wants to do the training, but that point went over the heads of most of these idiots.

I knew when I posted this that there would be some very immature responses. As usual, Letsrun doesn't disappoint.

be a good parent wrote:

Don't train her. An 8 year old should not be "training" for anything.

This is the time to be a parent, not a coach.

Apparently, you aren't a parent.

Kids train all the time for sports. It's called practicing. Training your child to run is just practice for running. It can be done in moderation. Just like any other sport.

DanielSon wrote:

Thanks, Slacker. I made it a point to mention that she enjoys it and wants to do the training, but that point went over the heads of most of these idiots.

I knew when I posted this that there would be some very immature responses. As usual, Letsrun doesn't disappoint.

It only went over the heads of those without kids. Good luck.

Yea, what gives, is the fitness test only a 1/4 mile now?

if she is already in other sports, she really doesn't need to 'train' for a fitness test. That is the whole point of the test....to test her fitness? If she wants to practice running then take her to a track and run around with her. Teach her how to run in a lane and how to do a little start. She is eight and that is awfully young to do serious running. Just have some fun with her at the track, she doesn't need to train for this test.

Not so Fast wrote:

Apparently, you aren't a parent.

Guess again

Kids train all the time for sports. It's called practicing. Training your child to run is just practice for running. It can be done in moderation. Just like any other sport.

8 year olds do not train all the time for running races.

You want to train your 8 year old for a race? Tell her to go outside and play. Run around a little on her own. Anything more than that for an 8 year old is not "moderation", it is bad parenting.

First, there is no 400M option for 8 year old girls. It stops at 7. She needs to run 3:58 in the half mile to hit the 85th percentile. To qualify for Presidential in the full mile she needs to run 10:02.

You aren't seriously concerned with your 8 year old's performance in gym class enough to put her on a training program are you? If so, you yourself have scored in the 99th percentile in the event of douche-baggery.

So you don't let your 8 year old to play sports? Wouldn't that qualify as your "bad parenting" because they have to train/practice and run more then a little?

You say she runs 2:45 now for 400m. That's 11 minute mile pace. Plenty of 8 year olds who don't do crap can go out and run faster. You also say that she plays soccer and basketball and that she's in good shape. Sorry to say, but that's pretty slow for an 8 year old girl in "good shape." I'm not saying this maliciously just realistically - it doesn't sound like your daughter has the talent to run at 7:20 pace for even 400m (which is what a 1:50 is). Or else the soccer/basketball teams don't work her like the one's I've seen.

But, there's no harm trying.

I think it's OK to have her do "training" in moderation. As other parents have pointed out don't push her but if she's into it, it's no different than having her practice violin 30 minutes a day. It's developing one facet of her. As long as it's only seen as one part and not an obsession it's good.

You don't want a kid to do too much anaerobic stuff. But kids can handle quite a bit of aerobic stuff. Her problem seems to be aerobic endurance anyway--even though she can cover the distance. I would have her do some slow runs as long as she can go a few times a week (if she has to walk a few seconds at times it's ok) and maybe once a week do the 400 fairly fast so she can get confidence and practice.

Don't be bummed out if she still doesn't do well. For one, it's only a small part of life. For two, kids change a lot as they grow. Your daughter may change completely by the time she's an adolescent, so just because she doesn't have the talent now doesn't mean she won't later.

Good Luck.

Slacker wrote:

So you don't let your 8 year old to play sports? Wouldn't that qualify as your "bad parenting" because they have to train/practice and run more then a little?

If she wants to play T-ball she has my blessing. But then again, I have yet to see a T-ball coach working on the VO2 max of one of his "athletes". They're usually trying to teach them to be able to swing at the ball without falling down

If she wants to play T-ball she has my blessing. But then again, I have yet to see a T-ball coach working on the VO2 max of one of his "athletes". They're usually trying to teach them to be able to swing at the ball without falling down

Memo to idiot: 8-year-olds don't play "t-ball." That's like 3-5 year-olds. 8-year-olds can do a hell of a lot more than swing at the ball without falling down.