Is it to much for my 9 year old who runs about 20 days a month, but just short jogs through the neighborhood and a few fun run mile and 2 mile races, to do a 4 mile race. Would people look at me like l am just like that dad who had that 6 year old run a marathon? What is too much for a 9 year old boy?
There's a 10k that's a big deal for the town. Like 700 people in a small town. The next day, they run a kids 3 mile run. Kindergarten through 8th grade. The kids do just fine
I got my kids to jog the distance before their first 5ks. They were about the same age and ran the races a few minutes faster than they jogged the distance previously.
4 miles wrote:
Is it to much for my 9 year old who runs about 20 days a month, but just short jogs through the neighborhood and a few fun run mile and 2 mile races, to do a 4 mile race. Would people look at me like l am just like that dad who had that 6 year old run a marathon? What is too much for a 9 year old boy?
No. But don’t be a jerk and tell the kid to run faster. Just make it a 4 mile run.
4 miles is a totally appropriate distance for a 9 year especially as he’s been training albeit i shorter distances. I see 6 and 7 year olds run 5ks all the time and do fine.
FWIW I ran my first 10k at age 9 in the mid 80s and it got me hooked on running. I ran in 62 minutes and felt fine afterwards.
Yes it's fine. A 9 year old girl from France ran 16:45 for 5k.
It's about at the upper limit of acceptable for the age. But as others have said, make it non-competitive, make it ok for your kid to take a walking break. If the kid is crying, or your bribing them to finish, then it's not fun and you need to stop. I don't think kids under the age of 13 should be genuinely racing distances above 3000m
High hopes wrote:
It's about at the upper limit of acceptable for the age. But as others have said, make it non-competitive, make it ok for your kid to take a walking break. If the kid is crying, or your bribing them to finish, then it's not fun and you need to stop. I don't think kids under the age of 13 should be genuinely racing distances above 3000m
Thats crazy! 12 is 8th grade and they run 3 miles in meets. I seriously don't agree with this.10k is ok. I did 10ks at 12.
If he wants to do it, there's no problem with it. I did 10Ks at that age. Let him go solo, you run your race, let him run his race, meet at the finish line.
Steiner Math wrote:
If he wants to do it, there's no problem with it. I did 10Ks at that age. Let him go solo, you run your race, let him run his race, meet at the finish line.
I did 10K - 10 mile races at age 8-9 back in the early 80's and it was fine.
I agree about letting him run his own pace, that's the key. Just leave him alone and let him do what feels right to him. Based on the information provided by the OP, I would say that 5K is probably ideal for the occasional fun race at his stage, but 4 miles is definitely doable.
High hopes wrote:
I don't think kids under the age of 13 should be genuinely racing distances above 3000m
Have you met any 13 year olds? Middle school cross country is 3k-2 miles. 5k-4 miles is not a problem.
4 miles wrote:
Is it to much for my 9 year old who runs about 20 days a month, but just short jogs through the neighborhood and a few fun run mile and 2 mile races, to do a 4 mile race. Would people look at me like l am just like that dad who had that 6 year old run a marathon? What is too much for a 9 year old boy?
Should be fine. Just let him decide how hard to push himself and when to take breaks.