5 year old runner

In article said:

Anyone know of running stats or a web site that gives how far the average 5 year old can run? My
son started running in August with his flag football team. He won his first lap and every
subsequent lap around the field beating some kids who are nearly 2 years older than he. Anyway he
doesn't train in any fashion but I take him to the track, at his begging now to see what he can
do. First he ran 2 miles then 3.5 miles then 5.5 miles then today he ran
6.5 miles, we stopped and I was looking at the lap times and he jumped up and ran his 27th lap on
his own. Then he did another 28th 1/4mile lap in under 2 minutes. Is this common? I can't keep
up. Some of the kids on his football team were in stitches after what was probably a single
1/8th mile lap. The more laps he ran with his team, the greater the distance he would win by as
the other children would fatigue and he just seems to get stronger. He just started
kindergarten. How do I find out how good he really
is. I could use some guidance, I am not nor have I ever been a runner, though I will not be beaten
by a five year old. Thanks to anyone who can offer guidance.

Sounds like he has a lot of talent. But it's way too early to think about getting him involved in
competitive running. Because his bones are rapidly growing, he is more vulnerable to injury than an
adult, and this will remain the case until he's in his late teens. For now, the best approach is a
hands-off one. The good news (IMO) is that unlike some sports, you can start late with running --
beginning a structured and intense training program in late high school or college will still allow
plenty of time for him to be a great runner. Before then, running for fun is fine, but high milage
training is not a good idea.

Dealing with young runners is a topic that is addressed in several running books, it may be a good
idea to take a look at some of them.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗

In article <[email hidden]>,

Pier-14 said:

Anyone know of running stats or a web site that gives how far the average 5 year old can run? My
son started running in August with his flag football team. He won his first lap and every
subsequent lap around the field beating some kids who are nearly 2 years older than he. Anyway he
doesn't train in any fashion but I take him to the track, at his begging now to see what he can
do. First he ran 2 miles then 3.5 miles then 5.5 miles then today he ran
6.5 miles, we stopped and I was looking at the lap times and he jumped up and ran his 27th lap on
his own. Then he did another 28th 1/4mile lap in under 2 minutes. Is this common? I can't keep
up. Some of the kids on his football team were in stitches after what was probably a single
1/8th mile lap. The more laps he ran with his team, the greater the distance he would win by as
the other children would fatigue and he just seems to get stronger. He just started
kindergarten. How do I find out how good he really
is. I could use some guidance, I am not nor have I ever been a runner, though I will not be beaten
by a five year old. Thanks to anyone who can offer guidance.

I don't know about websites, but any 5-year-old kid who can run 7 miles and finish up with a 2:00
quarter mile should be doing cross country in the fall, not football. He's already running better
than a lot of freshman high school runners!

It sounds like he likes to run, so I would encourage him without pushing. Maybe ask him if he'd like
to enter a 5k road race. Let him run at his pace and follow along; see how he likes it.

I'd suggest talking to his pediatrician to make sure everything is cool with him running.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

The problem with any 5k race is only that he will be racing against teens and adults. I will not get
any feedback as to how he compares to other kids his age as there will be very few if any. Thus I
will get no answer as to how good he might be as it is useless to compare him to those with legs
twice or more as long as are his. I dunno. Thanks for replying! "Harold Buck"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Pier-14 said:

Anyone know of running stats or a web site that gives how far the

average 5

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

year old can run? My son started running in August with his flag

football

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

team. He won his first lap and every subsequent lap around the field

beating

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

some kids who are nearly 2 years older than he. Anyway he doesn't train

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

any fashion but I take him to the track, at his begging now to see what

he

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

can do. First he ran 2 miles then 3.5 miles then 5.5 miles then today he

ran

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

6.5 miles, we stopped and I was looking at the lap times and he jumped

up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and ran his 27th lap on his own. Then he did another 28th 1/4mile lap in under 2 minutes. Is
this common? I can't keep up. Some of the kids on

his

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

football team were in stitches after what was probably a single 1/8th

mile

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

lap. The more laps he ran with his team, the greater the distance he

would

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

win by as the other children would fatigue and he just seems to get stronger. He just started
kindergarten. How do I find out how good he

really

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is. I could use some guidance, I am not nor have I ever been a runner, though I will not be
beaten by a five year old. Thanks to anyone who

can

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

offer guidance.

I don't know about websites, but any 5-year-old kid who can run 7 miles and finish up with a 2:00
quarter mile should be doing cross country in the fall, not football. He's already running better
than a lot of freshman high school runners!

It sounds like he likes to run, so I would encourage him without pushing. Maybe ask him if he'd
like to enter a 5k road race. Let him run at his pace and follow along; see how he likes it.

I'd suggest talking to his pediatrician to make sure everything is cool with him running.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

In article said:

The problem with any 5k race is only that he will be racing against teens and adults. I will not
get any feedback as to how he compares to other kids

You won't have any way of knowing exactly how talented he really is in the next several
years anyway.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗

He has played T-ball where he proved he could backhand a grounder that no one else could see. Flag
football quarterback, running back and linebacker. In Soccer he is the best in our town for his age
without question, when he is on the field no other child on either team has even a fighting chance
of getting the ball, much less scoring. He scores between 3 and 10 goals per game, then soccer is
all motion thus his natural speed and endurance are a key to his success. His talent is obvious at
every sport he has tried and at running. I just wish he could find others his age to run with.
"Donovan Rebbechi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

The problem with any 5k race is only that he will be racing against

teens

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and adults. I will not get any feedback as to how he compares to other

kids

Quoted message said:

You won't have any way of knowing exactly how talented he really is in the

next

Quoted message said:

several years anyway.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗

Gee, with the head start your son has with jogging, he'll be a full fledged, mouth breathing, whiny,
impotent, socially inept jogger before you know it.

Pier-14 said:

The problem with any 5k race is only that he will be racing against teens and adults. I will not
get any feedback as to how he compares to other kids his age as there will be very few if any.
Thus I will get no answer as to how good he might be as it is useless to compare him to those with
legs twice or more as long as are his. I dunno. Thanks for replying!

You might poke around a little and check with either your school programs, running clubs, or maybe
health clubs for kids' races. Where I am (Alaska), I've seen some races (schools and otherwise),
usually cross-country (kids of all ages like mud), that are kids only. Not sure of ages for all of
them, but some were no older than 4th or 5th grade, and there might have been some younger runs that
I didn't see. I think they were in 2-yr age groups. In another series, pictures in last week's paper
showed kids in their halloween costumes maybe waist high to the volunteers - however old that is -
running on xc trails. They're also frequently held as kids' fun runs before a main older kids', I
mean adult, event. One set of races is a family series with kids (1k-3k), recreational, and
competitive runners in separate races of different lengths and difficulties. So you can play too 😉
Look around.

It's also possible he might prefer to run with slightly older kids part of the time - more
challenge. But might need the encouragement of being with kids his own age. Big fish in small pond
or small fish in big pond sorta thing.

BUT keep it fun and what he wants to do. As others have said, kids bones are still forming, and they
could easily overdo something if too enthusiastic so you might have to gracefully exert some
parental influence.

If TenKMan doesn't pop in with a response, you might also did a google search on the group for posts
by "TenKMan", esp. ones containing the word "kid", in particular "Running with kids - running
shoes?" from
8/11/2003.

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Harold Buck <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Pier-14 said:

Anyone know of running stats or a web site that gives how far the average 5 year old can run? My
son started running in August with his flag football team. He won his first lap and every
subsequent lap around the field beating some kids who are nearly 2 years older than he. Anyway
he doesn't train in any fashion but I take him to the track, at his begging now to see what he
can do. First he ran 2 miles then 3.5 miles then 5.5 miles then today he ran
6.5 miles, we stopped and I was looking at the lap times and he jumped up and ran his 27th lap
on his own. Then he did another 28th 1/4mile lap in under 2 minutes. Is this common? I can't
keep up. Some of the kids on his football team were in stitches after what was probably a
single 1/8th mile lap. The more laps he ran with his team, the greater the distance he would
win by as the other children would fatigue and he just seems to get stronger. He just started
kindergarten. How do I find out how good he really
is. I could use some guidance, I am not nor have I ever been a runner, though I will not be
beaten by a five year old. Thanks to anyone who can offer guidance.

I don't know about websites, but any 5-year-old kid who can run 7 miles and finish up with a 2:00
quarter mile should be doing cross country in the fall, not football. He's already running better
than a lot of freshman high school runners!

It sounds like he likes to run, so I would encourage him without pushing. Maybe ask him if he'd
like to enter a 5k road race. Let him run at his pace and follow along; see how he likes it.

I think that most current opinion is that road running is A Very Bad Thing for children, and that
excessive running on any surface is not that good. However, if cross-country were available I think
this might be a good idea. Or track, if you have a decent one near you. But I agree - keep it fun.

Edward
--
The reading group's reading group: bookgroup.org.ukbookgroup.org.ukOpen ↗

"Dot" <dot.h@#att.net> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Pier-14 wrote:

If TenKMan doesn't pop in with a response, you might also did a google search on the group for
posts by "TenKMan", esp. ones containing the word "kid", in particular "Running with kids -
running shoes?" from
8/11/2003.

Hi Dot,

I just got back from the state championships for USATF boys cc. Both boys had bad races for them
(Daniel 14 took 4th but ran the best times for the season, Russell 11 took 8th in midget boys but is
a young midget and should compete well next year ). It was snowy and slick and Daniel threw up
partway through his race. Both have qualified to go to the western regionals in three weeks. We had
a lot of fun on the trip which is what was important anyway.

As for the 5 year-old prodigy in question, I do have some advice.

1) Keep the races short, fast and fun. Speed is most important in high school and beyond, and
cardiovascular can be developed. 5k road races are the longest I would have him run even though
it is obvious he could do well at longer events.

2) If the 5 year-old really likes to compete, take him to the USATF track and cross country meets.
He would compete as a pre bantam but then he would see how good he is. I think these meets are
great fun. See how fast the kid is at 100 meters through 1500 or even 3000 meters (which is the
longest event for under 15 year olds). The kid may fall in love with the 400 or 800 or the 200
meter events. Who knows.

3) I have seen a few insane parents at these meets. I know of an eleven year-old girl here in Utah
that runs 50 miles a week with her elite track club. I know the boy that is either 9 or 10 and
won the national title at 1500 meters and came within 2 seconds of breaking the national record.
Friends tell me of insane workouts these kids do and I witnessed very intense behavior by such
parents.. My kids run several road, track, and cross country events but they also play
basketball, a little football, soccer ect. Kids need a mental break from anything that is too
consuming of their lives including piano, schoolwork, sports, tv, video games ect.

4) Make it fun for the kids. After the big events where we stayed in a hotel, we often would go to
a restaurant and get a great meal. We might then go to something cool locally like in Moab we
went to Arches national park and then a skateboard park. The kids beg me to go to Moab now
every year.

Anyway,

Good Luck!!!

Quoted message said:

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Thank you! "Miss Anne Thrope" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gee, with the head start your son has with jogging, he'll be a full fledged, mouth breathing,
whiny, impotent, socially inept jogger before you know it.

I agree make it fun. I am very lucky. I give my son a school book as an award for any personal best.
Thus he runs and gets a math and spelling book, then we sit down with a pencil and study our numbers
and letters, one came in from Amazon today. On another occasion I gave him his first tennis raquet
so we can play tennis rather than run on our next time out, thus diversifying his activity even
more, the tennis is in addition to baseball, football and soccer. Ok sometimes he gets Yu Ge Oh
cards since he is still a kid. As for running I prefer to have him run on a 1/4 mile rubber track, I
believe this to be safer than cross country since every step is equal no stones or ruts. Road racing
is out altogether for now at least, even if I am next to him. We were at the track on Columbus day,
I thought school was out but the high school gym class came out to run. He was running when they
came out and quit just before their class was over. They gave him a standing ovation. The gym class
is just that, not the track team thus some of the kids couldn't run even one lap, they watched a 5
year old do 14 laps, passing some of them as he went. He was embarrased at the clapping, I was and
am proud, yet somewhat in disbelief. "TenKMan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dot" <dot.h@#att.net> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Pier-14 wrote:

If TenKMan doesn't pop in with a response, you might also did a google search on the group for
posts by "TenKMan", esp. ones containing the word "kid", in particular "Running with kids -
running shoes?" from
8/11/2003.

Hi Dot,

I just got back from the state championships for USATF boys cc. Both boys had bad races for them
(Daniel 14 took 4th but ran the best times for the season, Russell 11 took 8th in midget boys but
is a young midget and should compete well next year ). It was snowy and slick and Daniel threw up
partway through his race. Both have qualified to go to the western regionals in three weeks. We
had a lot of fun on the trip which is what was important anyway.

As for the 5 year-old prodigy in question, I do have some advice.

1) Keep the races short, fast and fun. Speed is most important in high school and beyond, and
cardiovascular can be developed. 5k road races are the longest I would have him run even though
it is obvious he could do well at longer events.

2) If the 5 year-old really likes to compete, take him to the USATF track and cross country meets.
He would compete as a pre bantam but then he would see how good he is. I think these meets are
great fun. See how fast the kid is at 100 meters through 1500 or even 3000 meters (which is the
longest event for under 15 year olds). The kid may fall in love with the 400 or 800 or the 200
meter events. Who knows.

3) I have seen a few insane parents at these meets. I know of an eleven year-old girl here in Utah
that runs 50 miles a week with her elite track club. I know the boy that is either 9 or 10 and
won the national title at 1500 meters and came within 2 seconds of breaking the national
record. Friends tell me of insane workouts these kids do and I witnessed very intense behavior
by such parents.. My kids run several road, track, and cross country events but they also play
basketball, a little football, soccer ect. Kids need a mental break from anything that is too
consuming of their lives including piano, schoolwork, sports, tv, video games ect.

4) Make it fun for the kids. After the big events where we stayed in a hotel, we often would go
to a restaurant and get a great meal. We might then go to something cool locally like in Moab
we went to Arches national park and then a skateboard park. The kids beg me to go to Moab now
every year.

Anyway,

Good Luck!!!

Quoted message said:

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

In article <[email hidden]>,

Pier-14 said:

Thank you! "Miss Anne Thrope" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gee, with the head start your son has with jogging, he'll be a full fledged, mouth breathing,
whiny, impotent, socially inept jogger before you know it.

It's jogging, not chess!

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

In article said:

I agree make it fun. I am very lucky. I give my son a school book as an award for any personal
best. Thus he runs and gets a math and spelling book, then we sit down with a pencil and study our
numbers and letters, one came in from Amazon today. On another occasion I gave him his first tennis
raquet so we can play tennis rather than run on our next time out, thus diversifying his activity
even more, the tennis is in addition to baseball, football and soccer. Ok sometimes he gets Yu Ge
Oh cards since he is still a kid. As for running I prefer to have him run on a 1/4 mile rubber
track, I believe this to be safer than cross country since every step is equal no stones or ruts.
Road racing is out altogether for now at least, even if I am next to him. We were at the track on
Columbus day, I thought school was out but the high school gym class came out to run. He was
running when they came out and quit just before their class was over. They gave him a standing
ovation. The gym class is just that, not the track team thus some of the kids couldn't run even one
lap, they watched a 5 year old do 14 laps, passing some of them as he went. He was embarrased at
the clapping, I was and am proud, yet somewhat in disbelief. "TenKMan" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dot" <dot.h@#att.net> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Pier-14 wrote:

If TenKMan doesn't pop in with a response, you might also did a google search on the group for
posts by "TenKMan", esp. ones containing the word "kid", in particular "Running with kids -
running shoes?" from
8/11/2003.

Hi Dot,

I just got back from the state championships for USATF boys cc. Both boys had bad races for them
(Daniel 14 took 4th but ran the best times for the season, Russell 11 took 8th in midget boys but
is a young midget and should compete well next year ). It was snowy and slick and Daniel threw up
partway through his race. Both have qualified to go to the western regionals in three weeks. We
had a lot of fun on the trip which is what was important anyway.

As for the 5 year-old prodigy in question, I do have some advice.

1) Keep the races short, fast and fun. Speed is most important in high school and beyond, and
cardiovascular can be developed. 5k road races are the longest I would have him run even
though it is obvious he could do well at longer events.

2) If the 5 year-old really likes to compete, take him to the USATF track and cross country
meets. He would compete as a pre bantam but then he would see how good he is. I think these
meets are great fun. See how fast the kid is at 100 meters through 1500 or even 3000 meters
(which is the longest event for under 15 year olds). The kid may fall in love with the 400 or
800 or the 200 meter events. Who knows.

3) I have seen a few insane parents at these meets. I know of an eleven year-old girl here in
Utah that runs 50 miles a week with her elite track club. I know the boy that is either 9 or
10 and won the national title at 1500 meters and came within 2 seconds of breaking the
national record. Friends tell me of insane workouts these kids do and I witnessed very intense
behavior by such parents.. My kids run several road, track, and cross country events but they
also play basketball, a little football, soccer ect. Kids need a mental break from anything
that is too consuming of their lives including piano, schoolwork, sports, tv, video games ect.

4) Make it fun for the kids. After the big events where we stayed in a hotel, we often would go
to a restaurant and get a great meal. We might then go to something cool locally like in Moab
we went to Arches national park and then a skateboard park. The kids beg me to go to Moab now
every year.

Anyway,

Good Luck!!!

Quoted message said:

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

FWIW I had a running colleague with a son diagnosed with ADHD. Didnt know what to do with him, he
was driving everyone nuts. His Dad is a serious runner, runs 50+ miles per week. The son asked if he
could join his Dad, and for whatever reason, decided he liked running. If you have been around an
ADHD child guess you know attention span is pretty short. Well he really took to the running, and
started running further and further and at age 11 was running 1/2 marathons (not winning) but
respectable times, 90mins. Now at 16 is running marathons and winning. His life has taken a complete
180, he does well in school and has great self-esteem.

--mikeb

Congratulations to your friend and his son. One of the most important facets of parenting is not
just to teach the child all that is needed but to find out what the child wishes to learn. Once it
is determined what a child wishes to learn it becomes easy to go far. My son wishes to learn about
athletics, whether it be the quarterback of the football team (he was) or star soccer player or star
pitcher he is all. It was not I, but my sons football coach who had his team run around the playing
field. To my amazement he won EVERY time against some children who were 2 years older. I never in my
wildest imagination imagined that 2 months later my son would have run more than 10k's nonstop on
natural ability alone, no training needed. I need to train to be able to keep up with him. Being a
parent is the most rewarding and challenging job in the world. The time we spend with our children
is priceless. "Michael Brennan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

I agree make it fun. I am very lucky. I give my son a school book as an award for any personal
best. Thus he runs and gets a math and spelling

book,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

then we sit down with a pencil and study our numbers and letters, one

came

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in from Amazon today. On another occasion I gave him his first tennis raquet so we can play
tennis rather than run on our next time out, thus diversifying his activity even more, the tennis
is in addition to

baseball,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

football and soccer. Ok sometimes he gets Yu Ge Oh cards since he is

still a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

kid. As for running I prefer to have him run on a 1/4 mile rubber track, I believe this to be
safer than cross country since every step is equal no stones or ruts. Road racing is out
altogether for now at least, even if I

am

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

next to him. We were at the track on Columbus day, I thought school was

out

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

but the high school gym class came out to run. He was running when they

came

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out and quit just before their class was over. They gave him a standing ovation. The gym class is
just that, not the track team thus some of the kids couldn't run even one lap, they watched a 5
year old do 14 laps, passing some of them as he went. He was embarrased at the clapping, I was
and am proud, yet somewhat in disbelief. "TenKMan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dot" <dot.h@#att.net> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> Pier-14 wrote:
>
> If TenKMan doesn't pop in with a response, you might also did a

google

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> search on the group for posts by "TenKMan", esp. ones containing the word "kid", in
> particular "Running with kids - running shoes?" from
> 8/11/2003.

Hi Dot,

I just got back from the state championships for USATF boys cc. Both boys had bad races for
them (Daniel 14 took 4th but ran the best times for the season, Russell 11 took 8th in midget
boys but is a young

midget

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and should compete well next year ). It was snowy and slick and Daniel threw up partway through
his race. Both have qualified to go to the western regionals in three weeks. We had a lot of
fun on the trip

which

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is what was important anyway.

As for the 5 year-old prodigy in question, I do have some advice.

1) Keep the races short, fast and fun. Speed is most important in high school and beyond, and
cardiovascular can be developed. 5k road races are the longest I would have him run even
though it is obvious he could do well at longer events.

2) If the 5 year-old really likes to compete, take him to the USATF track and cross country
meets. He would compete as a pre bantam but then he would see how good he is. I think these
meets are great fun. See how fast the kid is at 100 meters through 1500 or even 3000 meters

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(which is the longest event for under 15 year olds). The kid may fall in love with the 400 or
800 or the 200 meter events. Who knows.

3) I have seen a few insane parents at these meets. I know of an

eleven

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

year-old girl here in Utah that runs 50 miles a week with her elite track club. I know the boy
that is either 9 or 10 and won the national title at 1500 meters and came within 2 seconds of
breaking the national record. Friends tell me of insane workouts these kids do and I witnessed
very intense behavior by such parents.. My kids run several road, track, and cross country
events but they also play basketball, a little football, soccer ect. Kids need a mental break
from anything that is too consuming of their lives including piano, schoolwork, sports, tv,
video games ect.

4) Make it fun for the kids. After the big events where we stayed in

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hotel, we often would go to a restaurant and get a great meal. We

might

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

then go to something cool locally like in Moab we went to Arches national park and then a
skateboard park. The kids beg me to go to

Moab

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

now every year.

Anyway,

Good Luck!!!

>
> Dot
>
> --
> "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope
>

FWIW I had a running colleague with a son diagnosed with ADHD. Didnt know what to do with him, he
was driving everyone nuts. His Dad is a serious runner, runs 50+ miles per week. The son asked if
he could join his Dad, and for whatever reason, decided he liked running. If you have been around
an ADHD child guess you know attention span is pretty short. Well he

really

Quoted message said:

took to the running, and started running further and further and at age 11 was running 1/2
marathons (not winning) but respectable times, 90mins. Now at 16 is running marathons and winning.
His life has taken a complete 180, he does well in school and has great self-esteem.

--mikeb

"Pier-14" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Anyone know of running stats or a web site that gives how far the average

5

Quoted message said:

year old can run?

My suspicion was that 6+ miles would not be advisable on a regular basis for a 5 year old, natural
talent or no, and I ran across the following web site right off the bat with Google:

www.kidsrunning.com (sponsered by RW)

While very pro-"kids running," their expert advises against 5-milers for a 10 year old, and in
another column says he doesn't advise 10Ks even for 11-12 yos. And in response to a question from
another parent of a 5-yo, he writes

"at 5 she shouldn't be even thinking about the competitive aspects of running. Who is the faster
runner at 5 years old should be contested in the playground or at school recess NOT on the roads
at a 5k race....I don't believe there is a place for 5 year olds running 5K races. I advise
parents to have their children compete within their age groups even if they are as good or better
than older kids. Track meets and fun runs sometimes have events for 5 year olds but the distance
is age appropriate usually 50 meters to 200 meters. I realize even kids as young as 5 put pressure
on themselves to perform at extreme athletic levels. We as parents and coaches have to make sure
youth athletics is a fun, interesting, and learning experience for children. Those are the results
that matter. "

Just because your kid begs you to do something, and manages to do it, doesn't mean it's good for
them. He may be talented as all get-out, but his bones are still 5-yo bones. Hell, people seemed
to be more concerned about the guy who wanted to get a puppy to run 6-milers with, than they do
about this kid.

I'm also puzzled by your statement that "you will not be beaten by a five year old." I bet you don't
let him win at Candyland, either. Meanie! The kid's gonna grow up with an Oedipal urge to kill the
man who wouldn't let him win at anything, except he won't be able to act on it because he's crippled
at the knees from too much, too soon.

Finally, if you agree that it should be "just for fun" at this point, why are you so obsessed with
knowing how he compares to other 5-yos?

"Pier-14" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Anyone know of running stats or a web site that gives how far the average 5 year old can run? My
son started running in August with his flag football team. He won his first lap and every
subsequent lap around the field beating some kids who are nearly 2 years older than he. Anyway he
doesn't train in any fashion but I take him to the track, at his begging now to see what he can
do. First he ran 2 miles then 3.5 miles then 5.5 miles then today he ran
6.5 miles, we stopped and I was looking at the lap times and he jumped up and ran his 27th lap on
his own. Then he did another 28th 1/4mile lap in under 2 minutes. Is this common? I can't keep
up. Some of the kids on his football team were in stitches after what was probably a single
1/8th mile lap. The more laps he ran with his team, the greater the distance he would win by as
the other children would fatigue and he just seems to get stronger. He just started
kindergarten. How do I find out how good he really
is. I could use some guidance, I am not nor have I ever been a runner, though I will not be beaten
by a five year old. Thanks to anyone who can offer guidance.

Hi Pier, It doesn't surprise me that a 5 year old could beat an older child. I saw this with my own
daughters. Before they entered school, they were very fast. As they got older -- and the more time
they spent each day sitting still in class and not using those muscles -- the slower they became. So
don't be surprised or disappointed if this happens with your son. Definetly encourage physical
activity outside of school (most kids don't get enough these days) to reduce the amount of muscle
tone your child loses by being sedentary for 8 hours each day.

As for what is appropriate for a 5 year old, I once asked my daughters' gym teacher if it was okay
to take them running with me. They were in first and 2nd grade at the time. Her advice was that I
limit their mileage to no more than 1 mile at a shot. I could gradually increase this so that by
now, at age 9 and 11, they should be able to handle 3 miles at a time. (side note: our local Y has a
summer running program that trains young girls to be able to complete a 5k).

There are lots of reasons to worry about young kids and running longer distances. First, there's the
risk of injury. Unlike adults, kids are still growing, sometimes as much as an inch in one night! It
takes some time for a child to adjust to that extra height; this is why kids and especially teens
tend to be clumsy. Therefore, what might work fine for running on one day, might suddenly become a
problem and result in injury the next day.

Another concern is teaching a child that age to pace themselves. I have enough trouble with my 9 and
11 year old trying to teach them to pace themselves; I can't imagine doing it with a 5 year old.
Kids seem to be more prone to over-doing things, particularly if they are anxious to keep up with
dad on the track.

Also at this age it is important that kids be encouraged to do a variety of activities. This will
ensure that their growing bodies will become well-rounded. I'd be very concerned with too much
running, which uses highly specific muscles. Kids need to do other activities, such as hanging on
the monkey bars.

The teacher had other good reasons, but I don't remember them for now.

jen

"DrLith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>... <snip>

Quoted message said:

I'm also puzzled by your statement that "you will not be beaten by a five year old." I bet you
don't let him win at Candyland, either. Meanie! The kid's gonna grow up with an Oedipal urge to
kill the man who wouldn't let him win at anything, except he won't be able to act on it because
he's crippled at the knees from too much, too soon.

This reminds me of a story told by Steve Davis (ex-World Snooker Champion). He was at a holiday
resort giving a prize to some kid who had won a local pool competition. Part of the prize was a game
of pool against Steve. Steve completely and utterly thrashed the poor lad. When asked afterwards why
he hadn't let him win, he replied "What! And let him grow up thinking that he can beat me?" There
speaks a true champion. Albeit snooker is a game, not a sport. But never mind.

Edward
--
The reading group's reading group: bookgroup.org.ukbookgroup.org.ukOpen ↗

All you need is love, love is all you need. "Fabian Speed" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Learn to quote you [censored].

(Michael Brennan) said:

In article said:

I agree make it fun. I am very lucky. I give my son a school book as an award for any personal
best. Thus he runs and gets a math and spelling

book,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

then we sit down with a pencil and study our numbers and letters, one

came

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Quoted message said:

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in from Amazon today. On another occasion I gave him his first tennis raquet so we can play
tennis rather than run on our next time out, thus diversifying his activity even more, the
tennis is in addition to

baseball,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

football and soccer. Ok sometimes he gets Yu Ge Oh cards since he is

still a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

kid. As for running I prefer to have him run on a 1/4 mile rubber track, I believe this to be
safer than cross country since every step is equal no stones or ruts. Road racing is out
altogether for now at least, even if

I am

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

next to him. We were at the track on Columbus day, I thought school was

out

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

but the high school gym class came out to run. He was running when they

came

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out and quit just before their class was over. They gave him a standing ovation. The gym class
is just that, not the track team thus some of the kids couldn't run even one lap, they watched a
5 year old do 14 laps, passing some of them as he went. He was embarrased at the clapping, I

was

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and am proud, yet somewhat in disbelief. "TenKMan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
>
> "Dot" <dot.h@#att.net> wrote in message
> "]news:[email hidden]...
> > Pier-14 wrote:
> >
> > If TenKMan doesn't pop in with a response, you might also did a

google

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > search on the group for posts by "TenKMan", esp. ones containing the word "kid", in
> > particular "Running with kids - running shoes?" from
> > 8/11/2003.
>
> Hi Dot,
>
> I just got back from the state championships for USATF boys cc. Both boys had bad races for
> them (Daniel 14 took 4th but ran the best times for the season, Russell 11 took 8th in midget
> boys but is a young

midget

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> and should compete well next year ). It was snowy and slick and

Daniel

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> threw up partway through his race. Both have qualified to go to the western regionals in three
> weeks. We had a lot of fun on the trip

which

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> is what was important anyway.
>
> As for the 5 year-old prodigy in question, I do have some advice.
>
> 1) Keep the races short, fast and fun. Speed is most important in

high

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> school and beyond, and cardiovascular can be developed. 5k road races are the longest I would
> have him run even though it is obvious he

could

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> do well at longer events.
>
> 2) If the 5 year-old really likes to compete, take him to the USATF track and cross country
> meets. He would compete as a pre bantam but then he would see how good he is. I think these
> meets are great fun. See how fast the kid is at 100 meters through 1500 or even 3000 meters
> (which is the longest event for under 15 year olds). The kid may fall in love with the 400
> or 800 or the 200 meter events. Who knows.
>
> 3) I have seen a few insane parents at these meets. I know of an

eleven

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> year-old girl here in Utah that runs 50 miles a week with her elite track club. I know the boy
> that is either 9 or 10 and won the

national

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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> title at 1500 meters and came within 2 seconds of breaking the

national

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> record. Friends tell me of insane workouts these kids do and I witnessed very intense behavior
> by such parents.. My kids run several road, track, and cross country events but they also play
> basketball, a little football, soccer ect. Kids need a mental break from anything that is too
> consuming of their lives including piano, schoolwork, sports, tv, video games ect.
>
> 4) Make it fun for the kids. After the big events where we stayed in

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> hotel, we often would go to a restaurant and get a great meal. We

might

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> then go to something cool locally like in Moab we went to Arches national park and then a
> skateboard park. The kids beg me to go to

Moab

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> now every year.
>
>
> Anyway,
>
> Good Luck!!!
>
> >
> > Dot
> >
> > --
> > "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope
> >
>
>

FWIW I had a running colleague with a son diagnosed with ADHD. Didnt know what to do with him, he
was driving everyone nuts. His Dad is a serious runner, runs 50+ miles per week. The son asked if
he could join his Dad, and for whatever reason, decided he liked running. If you have been

around

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

an ADHD child guess you know attention span is pretty short. Well he

really

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

took to the running, and started running further and further and at age

11

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was running 1/2 marathons (not winning) but respectable times, 90mins.

Now

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

at 16 is running marathons and winning. His life has taken a complete

180,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

he does well in school and has great self-esteem.

--mikeb

why? i got my right hand.

Pier-14 said:

All you need is love, love is all you need. "Fabian Speed" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Learn to quote you [censored].

(Michael Brennan) said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Pier-14 <[email hidden]> wrote:
>I agree make it fun. I am very lucky. I give my son a school book as an award for any personal
>best. Thus he runs and gets a math and spelling

book,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>then we sit down with a pencil and study our numbers and letters, one

came

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>in from Amazon today. On another occasion I gave him his first tennis raquet so we can play
>tennis rather than run on our next time out, thus diversifying his activity even more, the
>tennis is in addition to

baseball,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>football and soccer. Ok sometimes he gets Yu Ge Oh cards since he is

still a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>kid. As for running I prefer to have him run on a 1/4 mile rubber track, I believe this to be
>safer than cross country since every step is equal no stones or ruts. Road racing is out
>altogether for now at least, even if

I am

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>next to him. We were at the track on Columbus day, I thought school was

out

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>but the high school gym class came out to run. He was running when they

came

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>out and quit just before their class was over. They gave him a standing ovation. The gym class
>is just that, not the track team thus some of the kids couldn't run even one lap, they watched
>a 5 year old do 14 laps, passing some of them as he went. He was embarrased at the clapping, I

was

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>and am proud, yet somewhat in disbelief. "TenKMan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>"]news:[email hidden]...
>>
>> "Dot" <dot.h@#att.net> wrote in message
>> "]news:[email hidden]...
>> > Pier-14 wrote:
>> >
>> > If TenKMan doesn't pop in with a response, you might also did a

google

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> > search on the group for posts by "TenKMan", esp. ones containing the word "kid", in
>> > particular "Running with kids - running shoes?" from
>> > 8/11/2003.
>>
>> Hi Dot,
>>
>> I just got back from the state championships for USATF boys cc. Both boys had bad races for
>> them (Daniel 14 took 4th but ran the best times for the season, Russell 11 took 8th in midget
>> boys but is a young

midget

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> and should compete well next year ). It was snowy and slick and

Daniel

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> threw up partway through his race. Both have qualified to go to the western regionals in
>> three weeks. We had a lot of fun on the trip

which

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> is what was important anyway.
>>
>> As for the 5 year-old prodigy in question, I do have some advice.
>>
>> 1) Keep the races short, fast and fun. Speed is most important in

high

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> school and beyond, and cardiovascular can be developed. 5k road races are the longest I would
>> have him run even though it is obvious he

could

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> do well at longer events.
>>
>> 2) If the 5 year-old really likes to compete, take him to the USATF track and cross country
>> meets. He would compete as a pre bantam but then he would see how good he is. I think
>> these meets are great fun. See how fast the kid is at 100 meters through 1500 or even 3000
>> meters (which is the longest event for under 15 year olds). The kid may fall in love with
>> the 400 or 800 or the 200 meter events. Who knows.
>>
>> 3) I have seen a few insane parents at these meets. I know of an

eleven

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> year-old girl here in Utah that runs 50 miles a week with her elite track club. I know the
>> boy that is either 9 or 10 and won the

national

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> title at 1500 meters and came within 2 seconds of breaking the

national

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> record. Friends tell me of insane workouts these kids do and I witnessed very intense
>> behavior by such parents.. My kids run several road, track, and cross country events but they
>> also play basketball, a little football, soccer ect. Kids need a mental break from anything
>> that is too consuming of their lives including piano, schoolwork, sports, tv, video games
>> ect.
>>
>> 4) Make it fun for the kids. After the big events where we stayed in

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> hotel, we often would go to a restaurant and get a great meal. We

might

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> then go to something cool locally like in Moab we went to Arches national park and then a
>> skateboard park. The kids beg me to go to

Moab

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> now every year.
>>
>>
>> Anyway,
>>
>> Good Luck!!!
>>
>> >
>> > Dot
>> >
>> > --
>> > "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

FWIW I had a running colleague with a son diagnosed with ADHD. Didnt know what to do with
him, he was driving everyone nuts. His Dad is a serious runner, runs 50+ miles per week. The
son asked if he could join his Dad, and for whatever reason, decided he liked running. If you
have been

around

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

an ADHD child guess you know attention span is pretty short. Well he

really

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

took to the running, and started running further and further and at age

11

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was running 1/2 marathons (not winning) but respectable times, 90mins.

Now

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

at 16 is running marathons and winning. His life has taken a complete

180,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

he does well in school and has great self-esteem.

--mikeb