Kids tri advice?

"Cam Wilson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

This might be helpful:

kidsrunning.comkrask0702tri.htmlOpen ↗

Tom Henderson <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Now here's where you can help me. I have never gotten the hang of it. What's the trick to picking
the right pair of feet and staying on them? I seem to end up with someone who's either faster than
I can manage, or too slow.

It helps if you know your competitors. If you know someone who is slightly faster than you is racing
in your wave, try to start near them and IF you can get through the first 50 yards of thrashing
while keeping them in sight you are good to go. That is a big IF though! If you happen to make it to
the first buoy ahead of him/her, when s/he goes by just jump onto his/her feet. If s/he makes it to
the first buoy ahead of you, sprint till you catch him/her. Realize that you will be wearing
yourself out early but it will be worth it if you can make it to his/her feet. Of course they may be
able to drop you if you start swimming through earlier waves of swimmers.

If you catch someone then you do not want to try to draft off of them, they are slower. IF someone
catches you though, pick up your pace and see if you can hang. The ideal draft situation is where
you feel like the pace is too easy but when you pull off to try to pass the person you have a hard
time. Drop back and enjoy it!

Practice drafting in swim practice and practice accelerations as well.

-hug

In article said:

On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 11:58:00 -0400, Cam Wilson <[email hidden]> wrote:

First your very lucky to have a kid that's shows interest in tri's. Been trying to sucker
mine into one for quite some time without success.

<stuff snipped but appreciated>

Quoted message said:

To me your biggest challenge will be the running aspect as for the most part, running is
just hard. However a 1.5K run is not an overwhelming distance and the type, distance etc
could be kept interesting. Having her run on a track may be a new experiance and may be
enough to keep her interested for a couple of workouts. Maybe a trail run or two. All sorts
of things.

good thoughts. we have both a track and trails nearby for both runs and bike rides. i'll mix things
up for variety, to keep it interesting for her.

The biking can be fun just

Quoted message said:

going out for a ride. Maybe pick a route with a few hills. Just doing the distance will get most
people in shape. I'm thinking that the workouts should be planned as in "hey we'll run today" but
not "we'll do a 5 minute warmup 4 x 400 at blah blah blah..." In the end the more fun she has the
more likely she'll be to do it.

i think what i'll do is create a schedule with flexibility built in, and we'll see where that goes.
the main goal is to get her up to the running distance, and the rest can be less structured.

Quoted message said:

Good luck and be sure to have fun your self too. Maybe she can teach you a thing or two.

i wouldn't be surprised 🙂 thanks for the thoughts, Matt.

cam

--
Not every race can be a perfect experience, but every race can be a learning experience.

Hi Cam,

If your daughter is involved in sports, she should have no problem finishing this race. Training
should be fun and not forced, especially since is her first race. Here is a sample schedule that
should allow her to finish with no problem (3 workouts per week, leave 1 day in between workouts if
possible):

Week 1:
1. 500 meter run (walk breaks as needed)
2. 20-30 minute bike ride
3. swim lesson

Week 2:
4. 600-700 meter run (walk breaks as needed)
5. 20-30 minute bike ride
6. swim lesson

Week 3:
7. 700-900 meter run (walk breaks as needed)
8. 20-30 minute bike ride + transition + 200m run
9. swim lesson

Week 4:
10. 900-1200 meter run (walk breaks as needed)
11. 20-30 minute bike + transition + 300m run
12. swim lesson

Week 5:
13. 1200-1500 meter run (with walk breaks as needed)
14. 20-30 minute bike + transition + 400m run
15. swim lesson + transition practice (simply learning the rules - helmet on first before
touching the bike)

Week 6:
16. 1500-2000m run (walk breaks as needed)
17. 20-30 minute bike + transition + 500m run
18. swim lesson + transition practice

I also believe there is a kids triathlon club in the Ottawa area. The coach of the club was at a
duathlon earlier this year but I don't recall his name. I'm sure if you asked around at triathlons
in the area that someone would know.

Dan

"Cam Wilson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi there,

My 10 year old daughter has expressed an interest in doing a kids tri in late August. I have done
one short beginner's tri myself and have done the training for a sprint tri (which I'll do this
Saturday), so I feel I can coach her with the knowledge I have accumulated so far. I come from a
running background and can definitely help her there, where she'll need the most assistance, since
she has never done much running for distance. She is an excellent swimmer, so no worries there. On
the bike... she can ride, but needs to work on her handling skills a bit more. We have six weeks
to get her feeling confident and ready for her first race.

I realize that she doesn't need to train the way I do for my races - I put in 5-6 days of workouts
per week - but I feel she has a ways to go, mainly in the run. The race distances are s-100m,
b-5k, r-1.5k. How many days and workouts per week would be best for a child of her age? I want her
to go into the race feeling ready, but without putting her through such training that she'd get
sick of the work and want to quit.

OK, now since her mom and I live apart, and I see her a few nights per week, I figure I will
mainly coach her on running form and endurance, and actually run with her, working from a
run-walk-run up to a 15-20
min. (near?) continuous run. I guess the idea is for her to be able to finish the race without
killing herself in the process. I'll make it clear that walking in the run leg is perfectly
acceptable. For the swim, well, she's got two more weeks left in her competitive swim class
(that'll put her at level 8 out of 12), so I'll let her do her own thing
- she'll be fine... I know it. I plan to teach her about tri rules, basic tri skills, transitions,
and hope she'll appreciate the fun side of this sport. Any other thoughts?

Cam

--
Not every race can be a perfect experience, but every race can be a learning experience.

In article said:

If your daughter is involved in sports, she should have no problem finishing this race. Training
should be fun and not forced, especially since is her first race. Here is a sample schedule that
should allow her to finish with no problem (3 workouts per week, leave 1 day in between workouts
if possible):

She is not really doing a LOT of different sports, but does do a lot of swimming, and some cycling.
Little running since school ended, where she did some soccer and other phys ed running games. But
she's not really as prepared for running as your schedule would require. I think she'd need at least
one more run per week to allow for more gradual increases, and to get her body (and mind) used to
running so much. These weekly run increases would feel like a lot to her, I think. I think that the
bike and swim parts are right on, and I'd just coach her through an additional run per week. One
could be at the track, one on trails, maybe throw in a road workout now and then.

The T1 practice and the bricks are definitely going in there too. They'll add even more fun
to the mix.

Thanks for the ideas.

Cam

Quoted message said:

Week 1:
1. 500 meter run (walk breaks as needed)
2. 20-30 minute bike ride
3. swim lesson

Week 2:
1. 600-700 meter run (walk breaks as needed)
2. 20-30 minute bike ride
3. swim lesson

Week 3:
1. 700-900 meter run (walk breaks as needed)
2. 20-30 minute bike ride + transition + 200m run
3. swim lesson

Week 4:
1. 900-1200 meter run (walk breaks as needed)
2. 20-30 minute bike + transition + 300m run
3. swim lesson

Week 5:
1. 1200-1500 meter run (with walk breaks as needed)
2. 20-30 minute bike + transition + 400m run
3. swim lesson + transition practice (simply learning the rules - helmet on first before touching
the bike)

Week 6:
1. 1500-2000m run (walk breaks as needed)
2. 20-30 minute bike + transition + 500m run
3. swim lesson + transition practice

I also believe there is a kids triathlon club in the Ottawa area. The coach of the club was at a
duathlon earlier this year but I don't recall his name. I'm sure if you asked around at triathlons
in the area that someone would know.

--
Not every race can be a perfect experience, but every race can be a learning experience.

I disagree with the idea of training a kid for triathlon. I have done competitive table tennis as a
kid - which also requires extensive training but at least has some playing aspect.

Triathlon has the main components;

1. Technical proficiency in three different sports
2. Endurance 3, Strength

among many others. Only one should be trained at that age. Overdeveloping Endurance and
strength at that age can lead to physical problems - especially with girls, as the hormone
system is just developing and cannot cope with a training program that requires suitable
hormonal reactions by the body.

If your doughter shows interest in triathlon thats great, I would sign her into a swimming kids
group (that focuses on technique and speed), but one where there is a lot of play and no fcous on
triathlon. With 10 years she can still learn to dive, flipturn and swim butterfly - with that she
gets a good swimming basis for later.

Biking should in my opinion not be trained at that age, a family tour of 40K with an occasional
sprint against other kids is fun and absolutely sufficient. Family mountainbike tours would also be
great especially to develope technique. Look for a suitable bike with very low gearing and teach her
to pedal with a high frequency.

NO POWER TRAINING - especially on the mountains. No big gear seated climbing - the joints are not
ready for that. And yes - the gearing thats used in kids competition is also useful in traning -
there is absolutely no need for a 53 on a kids bike.

With running its the same thing. Long endurance runs are not for kids. Playing sports like soccer
develope the running ability much better at that age. Hiking with an occasional run (you cant stop a
kid from running around anyway) ist sufficient. Playing some ball game in the backyard is
sufficient.

With the occasional biketour, a good swimming program and an active use of the spare time - your kid
will be very ready to participate in kids triathlons - but not to win them. Overfanatic parants that
push kids into winning such "competitions" not only destroy the yout of theyr kids - they also
disable theyre future athletic career in my opinion.

[email hidden] (Theodor Seiz) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Overfanatic parants that push kids into winning such "competitions" not only destroy the yout of
theyr kids - they also disable theyre future athletic career in my opinion.

Agreed. What's that got to do with some kids training for an ultrasprint? I don't think Cam said his

10 year old wanted to do an Ironman this summer. As a matter of fact said:

I figure I will mainly coach her on running form and endurance, and actually run with her, working
from a run-walk-run up to a 15-20
min. (near?) continuous run. I guess the idea is for her to be able to finish the race without
killing herself in the process. I'll make it clear that walking in the run leg is perfectly
acceptable. For the swim, well, she's got two more weeks left in her competitive swim class
(that'll put her at level 8 out of 12), so I'll let her do her own thing - she'll be fine...
I know it. I plan to teach her about tri rules, basic tri skills, transitions, and hope
she'll appreciate the fun side of this sport.

Sorry, but this is not an overfanatic (is that a word?) parent. It's a dad spending time with his
daughter and helping her accomplish a goal that she's expressed an interest in.

(Theodor Seiz) said:

I disagree with the idea of training a kid for triathlon. I have done competitive table tennis as a
kid - which also requires extensive training but at least has some playing aspect.

Triathlon has the main components;

1. Technical proficiency in three different sports
2. Endurance 3, Strength

among many others. Only one should be trained at that age. Overdeveloping Endurance and strength
at that age can lead to physical problems - especially with girls, as the hormone system is just
developing and cannot cope with a training program that requires suitable hormonal reactions by
the body.

To my knowledge this reaction also occurs in adult women. Although I would assume the
effects are more dangerous in children, especially women/girls going thru puberty, but I'm
not doctor. I personally know a few women who's cycle's were altered or stopped during heavy
training periods.

Quoted message said:

If your doughter shows interest in triathlon thats great, I would sign her into a swimming kids
group (that focuses on technique and speed), but one where there is a lot of play and no fcous on
triathlon. With 10 years she can still learn to dive, flipturn and swim butterfly - with that she
gets a good swimming basis for later.

This is a rather confusing statement to me. How is swimming alot any differnet from swimming
a little, biking a little and running a little. If a child of 10 goes to a beach swims a
little, rides his bike home really fast and then runs to friends house isn't that a
triathlon? Isn't doing that everyday training? I actually think children are more adept at
training than adults. They run when they want to run, they bike when they want to bike, swim
when they want to swim and stop all three when they are tired or want to. Unlike us very
foolish adults who refuse to listen to our bodies and trudge on reguardless of the messages
we recieve.

Quoted message said:

Biking should in my opinion not be trained at that age, a family tour of 40K with an occasional
sprint against other kids is fun and absolutely sufficient. Family mountainbike tours would also be
great especially to develope technique. Look for a suitable bike with very low gearing and teach
her to pedal with a high frequency.

NO POWER TRAINING - especially on the mountains. No big gear seated climbing - the joints are not
ready for that. And yes - the gearing thats used in kids competition is also useful in traning -
there is absolutely no need for a 53 on a kids bike.

I'm sorry I have to disagree here. Throw away any of the technical aspects. Just ride a
bike. I know I did ALOT of hills as kid. I loved going up them because going down was even
more fun. I probably didn't do as many miles as a kid as I do now, but I sure put in more
time, especially in the summer. On bike 8:00AM, stop catch frog, bike till lunch eat lunch,
find frog in pocket, bike till dinner around 5:00 or 6:00 up hills down hills thru town thru
the creek off road on road. Was it training in the boring adult narrow version of training,
no. Was it getting nearly the same results probably.

Quoted message said:

With running its the same thing. Long endurance runs are not for kids. Playing sports like soccer
develope the running ability much better at that age. Hiking with an occasional run (you cant stop
a kid from running around anyway) ist sufficient. Playing some ball game in the backyard is
sufficient.

Here again I think it depends on the kid. We have several area runners that are now going of
to college that have been running since 8-9 yrs old under semi serious training. From what I
know of them they suffer from no damaged bones, cartilage etc. They obviously weren't
running marathons at 8-9 but came from runnig families and ran with mom and dad as Cam is
suggesting. IMHO playing soccor, basketball etc is far more likely to cause serious injury
than a mild running program.

Quoted message said:

With the occasional biketour, a good swimming program and an active use of the spare time - your
kid will be very ready to participate in kids triathlons - but not to win them. Overfanatic parants
that push kids into winning such "competitions" not only destroy the yout of theyr kids - they also
disable theyre future athletic career in my opinion.

I don't think anyone is advocating forcing someone into doing something they refuse to do.
As I stated before my very own daughter has absolutely no desire to do a tri or run, she has
done some swimming though. I wouldn't dream of "making" her run or ride. The point of my
entire post to Cam was to make sure he made whatever he did fun. I think the extent and
intensity of any training program must match the abilities and desires of the individual.
Otherwise it is doomed to fail. One ten year may not want to do anything another may want to
be very serious about training.

~Matt

I didnt want to call him overfanatic nor do I oppose the idea of doing sprints. In fact I tried to
outline a possible plan to get ready for a sprint.

What I posted were general opinions and ideas, nothing else.

In article said:

I didnt want to call him overfanatic nor do I oppose the idea of doing sprints. In fact I tried to
outline a possible plan to get ready for a sprint.

What I posted were general opinions and ideas, nothing else.

Ah, OK. Just wondering where the "overfanatic" thoughts came from. This is a very low-pressure,
emphasis-on-fun, type of event and I'm treating it that way with my kid's "training". No problemo.

Cam

--
Not every race can be a perfect experience, but every race can be a learning experience.

If you were to look at my original post, you'd see that I have no intention of doing anything but
helping my daughter to learn to run
1.5k... more-or-less (with some walking being acceptable) so that she can complete a short tri and
have fun doing so.

I agree with you about strength and endurance training kids at a young age. I don't believe there is
anything extreme about the distances in the kids tri race coming up. My intention is to simply make
sure my daughter does get out on the bike and run at least a few times a week, even if it's at a low
intensity, so that she feels ready for the race, and can complete it without knocking herself out.
She's not going out to win the thing (although *somebody* will win it, of course). Fun is the key
factor here.

Unfortunately, her tendency is toward sitting in front of the tv or reading, rather than being
active, so I am simply working to encourage her to get outdoors and moving around more. The
swimming, on the other hand, is something she'd do 24-7, if she could.

Cam

In article said:

I disagree with the idea of training a kid for triathlon. I have done competitive table tennis as
a kid - which also requires extensive training but at least has some playing aspect.

Triathlon has the main components;

1. Technical proficiency in three different sports
2. Endurance 3, Strength

among many others. Only one should be trained at that age. Overdeveloping Endurance and strength
at that age can lead to physical problems - especially with girls, as the hormone system is just
developing and cannot cope with a training program that requires suitable hormonal reactions by
the body.

If your doughter shows interest in triathlon thats great, I would sign her into a swimming kids
group (that focuses on technique and speed), but one where there is a lot of play and no fcous on
triathlon. With 10 years she can still learn to dive, flipturn and swim butterfly - with that she
gets a good swimming basis for later.

Biking should in my opinion not be trained at that age, a family tour of 40K with an occasional
sprint against other kids is fun and absolutely sufficient. Family mountainbike tours would also
be great especially to develope technique. Look for a suitable bike with very low gearing and
teach her to pedal with a high frequency.

NO POWER TRAINING - especially on the mountains. No big gear seated climbing - the joints are not
ready for that. And yes - the gearing thats used in kids competition is also useful in traning -
there is absolutely no need for a 53 on a kids bike.

With running its the same thing. Long endurance runs are not for kids. Playing sports like soccer
develope the running ability much better at that age. Hiking with an occasional run (you cant stop
a kid from running around anyway) ist sufficient. Playing some ball game in the backyard is
sufficient.

With the occasional biketour, a good swimming program and an active use of the spare time - your
kid will be very ready to participate in kids triathlons - but not to win them. Overfanatic
parants that push kids into winning such "competitions" not only destroy the yout of theyr kids -
they also disable theyre future athletic career in my opinion.

--
Not every race can be a perfect experience, but every race can be a learning experience.

In article <[email hidden]>, Tom Henderson

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Theodor Seiz) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Overfanatic parants that push kids into winning such "competitions" not only destroy the yout of
theyr kids - they also disable theyre future athletic career in my opinion.

Agreed. What's that got to do with some kids training for an ultrasprint? I don't think Cam said

his 10 year old wanted to do an Ironman this summer. As a matter of fact said:

I figure I will mainly coach her on running form and endurance, and actually run with her,
working from a run-walk-run up to a 15-20
min. (near?) continuous run. I guess the idea is for her to be able to finish the race without
killing herself in the process. I'll make it clear that walking in the run leg is perfectly
acceptable. For the swim, well, she's got two more weeks left in her competitive swim class
(that'll put her at level 8 out of 12), so I'll let her do her own thing - she'll be
fine... I know it. I plan to teach her about tri rules, basic tri skills, transitions, and
hope she'll appreciate the fun side of this sport.

Sorry, but this is not an overfanatic (is that a word?) parent. It's a dad spending time with his
daughter and helping her accomplish a goal that she's expressed an interest in.

Thanks, Tom. I don't think I'm overfanatic about *anything* (except maybe at devouring giant bags of
doritos in a single sitting 🙂

There was no push to get my daughter into tri. She has simply watched me training for running races
- and my first tri a little while back - and has watched tri's both on tv and live in person... and
she decided the other day that she'd like to do this too. She told me that I "inspired her", which
all a parent can hope to do for their kids. Set a good example and away ya go.

Cam

--
Not every race can be a perfect experience, but every race can be a learning experience.

In article said:

On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 05:06:08 GMT, [email hidden] (Theodor Seiz) wrote:

Quoted message said:

This is a rather confusing statement to me. How is swimming alot any differnet from swimming
a little, biking a little and running a little. If a child of 10 goes to a beach swims a
little, rides his bike home really fast and then runs to friends house isn't that a
triathlon? Isn't doing that everyday training? I actually think children are more adept at
training than adults. They run when they want to run, they bike when they want to bike, swim
when they want to swim and stop all three when they are tired or want to. Unlike us very
foolish adults who refuse to listen to our bodies and trudge on reguardless of the messages
we recieve.

no kidding. i am more familiar with the folks in rec.running (of which some of you are also
participants), but it is there that i see posts by so many people who have continued to run, etc
even when major pains or other problems were evident. and hey.... i'm guilty as charged, too.

Quoted message said:

I'm sorry I have to disagree here. Throw away any of the technical aspects. Just ride a
bike. I know I did ALOT of hills as kid. I loved going up them because going down was even
more fun. I probably didn't do as many miles as a kid as I do now, but I sure put in more
time, especially in the summer. On bike 8:00AM, stop catch frog, bike till lunch eat lunch,
find frog in pocket, bike till dinner around 5:00 or 6:00 up hills down hills thru town thru
the creek off road on road. Was it training in the boring adult narrow version of training,
no. Was it getting nearly the same results probably.

so..... whatever happened to that poor ol' frog? he still in yer pocket?
🙂

Quoted message said:

Here again I think it depends on the kid. We have several area runners that are now going of
to college that have been running since 8-9 yrs old under semi serious training. From what I
know of them they suffer from no damaged bones, cartilage etc. They obviously weren't
running marathons at 8-9 but came from runnig families and ran with mom and dad as Cam is
suggesting. IMHO playing soccor, basketball etc is far more likely to cause serious injury
than a mild running program.

i don't think that there is much wrong with what Theodor Seiz said, but it just doesn't seem
relevant in this thread. i don't think i said a single word to mislead someone into thinking i was
pushing my kid into training way too hard for something she didn't want to do.

feh,

Cam

--
Not every race can be a perfect experience, but every race can be a learning experience.

Well, as my first post caused some confusing let me clarify:

I am not against kids training and I dont thik anybody acted or acts irresponsible. As I was
confronted with performance sports at an early age I did see the negative results. At my lokal
swimming place I would really like to receive a cent for each time kids get shouted at or even
slaped for some great sins like a bad leg kick.

I am still of the opinion that only swimming is suitable for a structured training at that early
age. Thats because swimming is technical in nature and gives many chances for "play" and variety.

Endurance or strength training is not an option at that age. Any fit and active kid can easily run
1,5K anyway, I played tabletennis at the age of 12 and finished a cross country 10K without any
running training in 52 minutes. So running and cycling is natural to kids - no structured plan
needed. Swimming must be learnt as it is technical by nature. Just an opinion ...

In article said:

Well, as my first post caused some confusing let me clarify:

I am not against kids training and I dont thik anybody acted or acts irresponsible. As I was
confronted with performance sports at an early age I did see the negative results. At my lokal
swimming place I would really like to receive a cent for each time kids get shouted at or even
slaped for some great sins like a bad leg kick.

well, that's just plain unacceptable, and likely not all that common.... I hope.

Quoted message said:

I am still of the opinion that only swimming is suitable for a structured training at that early
age. Thats because swimming is technical in nature and gives many chances for "play" and variety.

i'm not sure i see how a technical sport will allow for more chance to play. i do see how there is
more variety in what you can do in a pool: swim the various strokes, laps, drills, games (like tag,
or catch with a ball), races, and so on. But i'm not sure how "technical" relates to that.

Quoted message said:

Endurance or strength training is not an option at that age.

sure it is! my daughter has been in the local swim instruction program for a few years now, and in
the last few levels, they've been adding on some endurance swimming. as for strength, in her latest
class - which is an introduction to competitive swimming, they are shown a few strengthening
exercises which can benefit them both in the pool and in other areas of life. from what i saw, those
were aimed at strengthening the core... the midsection.

Any fit

Quoted message said:

and active kid can easily run 1,5K anyway,

you are assuming much here, and i would have to disagree. when i was a kid, running and biking and
playing around - in other words: fit... there was no way i could have just gone straight into a race
and completed 1.5k of nonstop running. that's endurance that's beyond what kids usually do, which is
a lot of stop and start... like in tag or in some team sports.

I played tabletennis at the

Quoted message said:

age of 12 and finished a cross country 10K without any running training in 52 minutes. So running
and cycling is natural to kids - no structured plan needed. Swimming must be learnt as it is
technical by nature. Just an opinion ...

maybe you are one of the few who could manage that 10k so easily... and well. cycling has to be
taught, though... remember that??? once you learn, you're set for life, though 🙂 no other
arguments today.

Cam

--
Not every race can be a perfect experience, but every race can be a learning experience.

(Theodor Seiz) said:

Well, as my first post caused some confusing let me clarify:

I am not against kids training and I dont thik anybody acted or acts irresponsible. As I was
confronted with performance sports at an early age I did see the negative results. At my lokal
swimming place I would really like to receive a cent for each time kids get shouted at or even
slaped for some great sins like a bad leg kick.

This is obviously over board and I would hope no one here condones that type of behavior.
However this is alos a far cry from the original post.

Quoted message said:

I am still of the opinion that only swimming is suitable for a structured training at that early
age. Thats because swimming is technical in nature and gives many chances for "play" and variety.

I guess I wonder why swimming is suitable for training and others are not? I can "play" as
much on my bike or run as you can in the pool. Probably more because of lack of need for
technique training. Nah Nah Na na na I can play harder than you can.

Quoted message said:

Endurance or strength training is not an option at that age. Any fit and active kid can easily run
1,5K anyway, I played tabletennis at the age of 12 and finished a cross country 10K without any
running training in 52 minutes. So running and cycling is natural to kids - no structured plan
needed. Swimming must be learnt as it is technical by nature. Just an opinion ...

I think endurance training and strength training is approprite at any age. To what extent is
the question?

~Matt

<briefly delurking>

Just a couple thoughts from someone who was once upon a time, many years ago, a 10-yr old daughter.

All kids probably enjoy playing, many (not all) kids may be ready for structure at that age. Many
want to do what Dad does. Some want to rebel. But in your daughter's case, as you point out, she has
seen you training for a tri, expressed an interest to do one, and so she probably would like to
train like Dad - scaled back appropriately, of course, as you've already noted. She's probably
already used to some structure from her swimming lessons.

Some kids, of all ages, may like the idea of "training" or "exercise" or "fitness", while others
respond better to calling it "play". It's just a matter of terminology and maybe some packaging for
the same activities.

Oh, yeah, and trail running and mt biking have at least as much opportunity for play as
swimming does 😉

Good luck as your daughter's coach and at your next tri!

<back to lurking>

Dot

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

In article said:

<briefly delurking>

Just a couple thoughts from someone who was once upon a time, many years ago, a 10-yr old
daughter.

All kids probably enjoy playing, many (not all) kids may be ready for structure at that age. Many
want to do what Dad does. Some want to rebel. But in your daughter's case, as you point out, she
has seen you training for a tri, expressed an interest to do one, and so she probably would like
to train like Dad - scaled back appropriately, of course, as you've already noted. She's probably
already used to some structure from her swimming lessons.

Some kids, of all ages, may like the idea of "training" or "exercise" or "fitness", while others
respond better to calling it "play". It's just a matter of terminology and maybe some packaging
for the same activities.

Oh, yeah, and trail running and mt biking have at least as much opportunity for play as
swimming does 😉

Good luck as your daughter's coach and at your next tri!

<back to lurking>

Dot

Hi Dot The Lurker,

Thanks for the thoughts. Yes, I must keep in mind that MY idea of fun in training is probably not
the same as that for my daughter. I'll even ask her what she likes about this sport and see why she
is interested. That'll help me customize her "training" to suit her needs and wishes. I think that
the fact that her swimming classes involve structure means that the other sports should be a bit
less structured - to balance things out a bit, and to boost the FUN factor for her. As was mentioned
before, this shouldn't all be about drills and hard work.

And thanks for the luck, Dot. My first sprint tri is this Saturday.... the butterflies are already
going nuts in my stomach 🙂

Cam

--
Not every race can be a perfect experience, but every race can be a learning experience.