Training with kids?

[IloveDaisy]

Hello!

We returned last week from the WDW Marathon weekend where my dh ran the half and the kids and I ran the 5K. None of us had trained much, but we had a great time walking/jogging the races.

Now we're looking forward to doing more! I'd like to train for a half or a full marathon, and I'd like the kids to be able to run/walk a 5K without struggling. The kids are 11 and 9, so I obviously need to be extremely hands-on with helping them gradually build up their endurance. However, I don't think they would need to run as much as I will.

Has anyone combined your own training with running with your kids? Does this make any sense at all? I'm sure I'm not explaining well.

Help! :)

Holly

[timmac]

Look at a typical couch to 5K plan, and based upon your kids performance in the recent 5k, see "where in the plan" their abilities are currently. (Most kids are somewhat active in school if nothing else, and as such, aren't really starting from the couch).

Build up from that point. They'll be able to RUN a 5k in no time.

[rubato]

My son, who is 10 is my guinea pig. I started a program for him because he was chubby and not being healthy. I'm all about health. So, we started eating better and I started having him jog every morning. When we started, 1/2 a mile hurt him. By the end, he was running 2 miles with no problem. He lost 16 pounds and is wanting to run his first 5k this spring with one of his little friends. Back when my treadmill was working, he was running at 5.5 miles an hour. Pretty good for 10 years old!

So, I would say to start small and very slowly build up their distance. It's very doable.

[kimara]

my 11 year old son was working on his "personal fitness" merit badge last summer, so we were all doing it. he set a plan to run 3 days a week and every 2 weeks we had to record how long it took him to run 1 mile. he had to show improvement over the 12 weeks to get the badge in running, sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups.

we did it together cuz we all needed it. sometimes we would run down the street, when it was just ds and 1 adult. when the whole family went, we would go to the track, so we could each go at the pace we needed, but still be there to monitor and encourage each other.

i like that we got a baseline--you already have the time it took your kids to finish the 5k. now set goals for improving that time and set a plan with them as to how to accomplish that goal. it will also be wonderful for them to see YOU set and accomplish fitness goals. great life skills you are helping them develop!!:thumbsup2