| Katydid8 |
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My 7-year-old son recently ask to run in a local 5k road race. I took him for a 3-mile training "jog" to ensure he could complete the distance and then signed him up. After forcing him to run slowly the first1.5 miles with me I let him go ahead of me and he completed in 27:32.... Two weeks later he ran a second 5K with me. He left me at the starting line, totally pacing himself and finished in 25:33. Mind you he has not been "training", just the exercise of an activw 7-yr-old at play. Is this a good time for his age. He is excited and living it. I want to encourage him but not pressure him or risk injury. Any advice? |
| florida oldtimer |
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I have a 10 year old who ran a 21:20 at 8 almost 9. I try not to say anything.... he runs only when he wants. Luckly he plays soccer at a high level which keeps him in shape. Hope some day (the next few years) he runs full time. All you can do is support him not push him. Good luck |
| really oldtimer |
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My sons are in their 30s now. They started running and racing with me at about age 7. I checked and my younger son ran a 5K in 22:01 just before he turned 8. They ran in high school and college. They were right around 4:30/1600, 9:45/3200 in high school and 4:00/1500, 9:25/steeple in college. Before high school age we used to run about 60-75 minutes on trails on weekends during the school year and about 4 times/week in the Summer time. They still run regularly and do a half dozen local races per year. I always took the approach with them that if they wanted to go for a run, I was up for it, and if they didn't, that was fine too. |
| Marroon |
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25 min is too slow for a 7year old. You don't seem to be working him hard. He needs encouragement and discipline. Sometimes kids can't do that for themselves. You need to train him harder. Tell him you will give him candy each time he beats his previous PR. Within a year he should be able to run a sub-20. Then you can take him to Disney land. Dont be a wuss - train him like a man. |
| 5000m UK |
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This has got to be post of the day! |
| Just another idiot |
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If he feels like running, let him run. If he doesn't, let him be. He'll probably want to do something else next week. Time is irrelevant. |
| jjjjjjjj |
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there was an article in the times that argues there is no harm in letting kids run a lot and in tim noakes, lore of running, it is also stated that there is no harm in letting them run distance. |
| Chonticha Laopanitcharoen |
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He need to wear trainers. |
| Dr.S |
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Brianna Jackucewicz ran 36 minutes for 5 miles on a hilly course at 7 years old. Look at #75 on the link below. http://www.bestrace.com/results/980503ru5.html She then ran in the 32's as an 8 year old: http://www.bestrace.com/results/990502ru5.html That time is 100% legit. She wound up setting a national age group record and also won the NJ state championship. She runs for Harvard now, but don't have any clue how she is doing there. Point is, a 7 year old girl was able to average around a 7 minute mile for 5 miles, and she went on to be good, but not a world class athlete (who knows the future though)... So don't get too caught up in times right now. |
| My SON is the BEST!! |
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i have a 7 year old that I had training year round, got him up to 60 miles a week...he ran 17:15 last week in his youth championships.. if your son can't beat mine, you have failed as a parent. no, jk, seriously, give the kid a break, whatever he runs he runs he just better have had fun |
| Conundrum |
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Ignore the posts you have read. Your kid is a gifted runner with great potential. Naw I'm only kidding. He sounds fast but let him know that you think he is fast without letting him hear you tell others how "gifted he is". Keep it low key at his age. If he thinks he's gifted in running, when he gets to third grade and finds out he coming in third in the mile you don't want him thinking that he failed. |
| Mr. Battery |
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I ran my first 5k when i was about 8-10 years old. My mom signed me up and we'd never run one before so we had no idea what was going on. To make a long story short we missed the start, then ran the wrong way, then i turned around and started busting out what seemed really fast to me, I was weaving through the walkers like a maniac. It came out to a 29:14. I don't really know exacty how much time was wasted but I would guess anywhere from 21-24 minutes would be my real time. Your son seems to be pretty good for a 7 year old who doesn't do any running. No world records broken but he sounds like he could run pretty fast if he keeps at it. |
| pr100 |
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Move to rural Ethiopia with a school about 10km from home... kick him out the door each morning in the general direction of school. Rinse, repeat for 10 years. Wait for the medals to roll in :) |
| the smartest letsrunner |
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First of all, these times are wildly inconsistent, which suggests the kid needs more race-pace intervals and tempos. I'd like to know a 10k time so we can understand his strength, and maybe a 400 just to get a sense for his raw speed (hand timed will do, but FAT is preferable, as you know). Get back to us with that obvious information and I'll give you a reasonable goal time in the marathon, and write a good schedule to prepare him. London is a bit soon, but maybe we can target Berlin this fall? I'm thinking 80 mpw should be good for this first time out, but we'll need lots of marathon pace work. In the meantime, take him to the track and have him do 1000s and 1600s once or twice a week. I'd like to see, for example, 6x1000 at his 5k pace, with 1:30 rest or so. Please send a video of this. |
| plus wunner |
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+1
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| ggegegegerrrrrr |
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Under 18 would be really good. Has he been following his vdot values closely? |