The Running Thread - 2016

[tigger536]

ATTQOTD: I did a January challenge last year where you had to run or walk at least one mile outside every day. It was fun at the time (and the Yeti t-shirt we got is cool), but I'd rather rest on some days and do more mileage on others, now.

 

[Baloo in MI]

ATTQOTD: Nope, never streaked, but I am considering running every day in December to stay motivated and stay on top of the holiday weight gain. As someone else mentioned, on my running rest days, maybe I would do just one mile along with some strength training or yoga.

That is a cool idea! I think I might just copy you (except Christmas Day, family won't go for that).

 

[Baloo in MI]

ATTQOTD:

All I can think of is Will Farrell in Old School, "let's go streaking"!

Never have myself, running variety or other!

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

My 7 year old son has started to take an interest in running and I've been taking him out on some short little runs over the last week and a bit. I make sure to treat it like a "real" run and we drive over to the park and I make a big deal about it for him...he seems to be enjoying it and wants to try to do a 5K in the Spring (he tells me his goal is 25 minutes haha...I said that might be a bit ambitious).

Anyone else run with their young children? What do you do to keep it fun and interesting for them? I really don't want to push him at all and burn him out on it, but I also want him to appreciate that it is something he needs to work at and take seriously as well.

 

[opusone]

Anyone else run with their young children? What do you do to keep it fun and interesting for them? I really don't want to push him at all and burn him out on it, but I also want him to appreciate that it is something he needs to work at and take seriously as well

Off and on, I have run with both my daughter (now 13) and son (now 11). I really just try to read their interest level and mix it up as far as course and type of workout (nothing fancy, just mix in very mild intervals here and there). Then, of course, praise them after each run. The funniest part is that one of their favorite things about running is drinking Gatorade after the run... hey, whatever motivates them. This is probably my fault since I explained the science behind Gatorade, and so now they really think they need to replenish electrolytes and stock back up on carbohydrates, even after an easy 15-minute run. My daughter did her first 5k with run/walk intervals earlier this year (in memory of a teacher in her middle school), but she's only run a little since then.

In the end, I can't say they have caught the bug yet (hence the on/off nature of their running), but they definitely have a positive attitude about it, so I still have hope for the future.

Sounds like your son might be a little more motivated than my kiddos. Also, it sounds like you are doing it correctly... don't push, make it fun, and after he gets to a certain point, he will likely start to take it more seriously all on his own (especially after he completes a 5k). Kids seems to really enjoy race environments.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Off and on, I have run with both my daughter (now 13) and son (now 11). I really just try to read their interest level and mix it up as far as course and type of workout (nothing fancy, just mix in very mild intervals here and there). Then, of course, praise them after each run. The funniest part is that one of their favorite things about running is drinking Gatorade after the run... hey, whatever motivates them. This is probably my fault since I explained the science behind Gatorade, and so now they really think they need to replenish electrolytes and stock back up on carbohydrates, even after an easy 15-minute run. My daughter did her first 5k with run/walk intervals earlier this year (in memory of a teacher in her middle school), but she's only run a little since then.

In the end, I can't say they have caught the bug yet (hence the on/off nature of their running), but they definitely have a positive attitude about it, so I still have hope for the future.

Sounds like your son might be a little more motivated than my kiddos. Also, it sounds like you are doing it correctly... don't push, make it fun, and after he gets to a certain point, he will likely start to take it more seriously all on his own (especially after he completes a 5k). Kids seems to really enjoy race environments.

Ah yes, the post-run treats...he insists on Starbucks

My daughter is 13 and has tried running off and on through the years but has pretty much decided she hates it...I don't push it on them. Sounds like your kids have a great attitude towards it though, more than anything you just want them to appreciate a healthy lifestyle.

 

[kirstie101]

My 7 year old son has started to take an interest in running and I've been taking him out on some short little runs over the last week and a bit. I make sure to treat it like a "real" run and we drive over to the park and I make a big deal about it for him...he seems to be enjoying it and wants to try to do a 5K in the Spring (he tells me his goal is 25 minutes haha...I said that might be a bit ambitious).

Anyone else run with their young children? What do you do to keep it fun and interesting for them? I really don't want to push him at all and burn him out on it, but I also want him to appreciate that it is something he needs to work at and take seriously as well.

My now 9 year old daughter started taking an interest in running a few years ago. I realized quickly that she was motivated by medals and praise So I started signing her up to do races/runs that I was doing when kids option was offered. She's done the rundisney kids races a few times, local kids runs, some local 5ks and shes registered to run the Star Wars 10k with me in January. So far the 10k is the only one that requires "training" for her. She's 100% only doing it because of the BB8 medal so thats her own little motivation. For our training runs, which we've only done a couple longer thank a 5k, I just remind her why she's training and what the reward is. It is pushing her a bit but I try to set a comfortable pace for her. We're doing 30 second run/walk intervals at a slower than normal for me pace. She did not love our 4 mile run and I think part of it was boredom. But I just kept telling her that she's run almost this far before, that the race in Disneyland will have people cheering her on and she'll see all this cool stuff and at the end she'll get that medal she wants so badly. So far it seems to be working. We're doing a local 5k together on Thanksgiving. I think I'll just let her run that one however she wants rather than worrying about intervals. That way she can just have fun with it.

 

[cburnett11]

Off and on, I have run with both my daughter (now 13) and son (now 11). I really just try to read their interest level and mix it up as far as course and type of workout (nothing fancy, just mix in very mild intervals here and there). Then, of course, praise them after each run.

Sounds like your son might be a little more motivated than my kiddos. Also, it sounds like you are doing it correctly... don't push, make it fun, and after he gets to a certain point, he will likely start to take it more seriously all on his own

My daughter is 13 and has tried running off and on through the years but has pretty much decided she hates it...I don't push it on them.

You guys are doing it the right way. If anyone needs advice on how to burn out young runners, please let me know... I have some tips.

You guys are already at an advantage because you both run and understand the effort required and the wide range of emotions/feelings/pain a runner can experience on any given day. There are plenty of other games/sports that a kid can choose that might seem more fun/easier than running. You know that whole "our sport is your sport's punishment" slogan you see on XC shirts. Both of my kids were very talented young runners. I didn't run at the time, so didn't quite understand that yelling for my kids to simply "run faster" wasn't really that motivational or supportive.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

My now 9 year old daughter started taking an interest in running a few years ago. I realized quickly that she was motivated by medals and praise So I started signing her up to do races/runs that I was doing when kids option was offered. She's done the rundisney kids races a few times, local kids runs, some local 5ks and shes registered to run the Star Wars 10k with me in January. So far the 10k is the only one that requires "training" for her. She's 100% only doing it because of the BB8 medal so thats her own little motivation. For our training runs, which we've only done a couple longer thank a 5k, I just remind her why she's training and what the reward is. It is pushing her a bit but I try to set a comfortable pace for her. We're doing 30 second run/walk intervals at a slower than normal for me pace. She did not love our 4 mile run and I think part of it was boredom. But I just kept telling her that she's run almost this far before, that the race in Disneyland will have people cheering her on and she'll see all this cool stuff and at the end she'll get that medal she wants so badly. So far it seems to be working. We're doing a local 5k together on Thanksgiving. I think I'll just let her run that one however she wants rather than worrying about intervals. That way she can just have fun with it.

That sounds great, can't believe she's going to do a 10K!
I did sign my guy up to do the Mickey Mile on Marathon Weekend and I am considering the Dark Side 5K as his "goal race". Disney is an incredible motivator!

 

[gjramsey]

My now 16 year old has done 3 5ks. He did cross country in Jr high, but has the teenager laziness/electronics fondness, and did not continue on with it in HS. He has a runners body, but won't put in the effort to train or run. When we did Blue Bell Fun Run this past spring, he didn't do any training before the race, ran the 5k in 28:09 , and then complain the next couple of days about his legs hurting. The hills on the course did a number on him, so I had to give him some grief.

I think he wants to do the race again this spring, just because of the free ice cream at the finish.

My 10 year just has no interest in doing anything outside.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

When I have tried to encourage my boys to run, they have mocked me. They are both very fit, but they think that I am crazy to run.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

My 7 year old son has started to take an interest in running and I've been taking him out on some short little runs over the last week and a bit. I make sure to treat it like a "real" run and we drive over to the park and I make a big deal about it for him...he seems to be enjoying it and wants to try to do a 5K in the Spring (he tells me his goal is 25 minutes haha...I said that might be a bit ambitious).

Anyone else run with their young children? What do you do to keep it fun and interesting for them? I really don't want to push him at all and burn him out on it, but I also want him to appreciate that it is something he needs to work at and take seriously as well.

My boys 6 & 9 are getting into running too. They seem to motivated by being like mom & dad. We bought all the kids their own medal rack after they did a couple races (DS9 has done 2 5ks and the mile at Disney and DS6 has done one 5k and the Disney mile) and hung it right next to ours. They love putting their medals on it. They also joined the run/walk club at their school, they get to hang out with their friends and get prizes so that's a big motivator for them as well. The oldest is training for a 10k right now which is being put on by our local military museum in January. He is dying for the Hellcat medal. The younger one is harder to motivate, I just take it one day at a time for him. And similar to @opusone they love that they get to have Propel or Gatorade at the end. Some days I'm sure that's the only reason they are out there

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

ATTQOTD: no streaking for me either

 

[Keels]

One of my favorite Littles (she's 8) just ran her first RunDisney 5K with us at Disneyland.

Now, she lives in a smaller town in DFW and plays A LOT of sports (soccer, softball, basketball and runs the elementary school version of cross country), and she often runs local races with her mom and Grandpa. She recently ran our HUGE Zoo Run 5K (I'm talking like 2K participants), and finished first for not only her age group but was the overall top kids finisher - boy OR girl! She doesn't really like running, but she's crazy competitive. When we were doing the Disneyland 5K, she kept reminding us that she was just running with us "for fun", but when she saw the finish line, she was going to sprint and "pass as many people as possible". She's the best.

Look at this #BeastMode face!

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

One of my favorite Littles (she's 8) just ran her first RunDisney 5K with us at Disneyland.

Now, she lives in a smaller town in DFW and plays A LOT of sports (soccer, softball, basketball and runs the elementary school version of cross country), and she often runs local races with her mom and Grandpa. She recently ran our HUGE Zoo Run 5K (I'm talking like 2K participants), and finished first for not only her age group but was the overall top kids finisher - boy OR girl! She doesn't really like running, but she's crazy competitive. When we were doing the Disneyland 5K, she kept reminding us that she was just running with us "for fun", but when she saw the finish line, she was going to sprint and "pass as many people as possible". She's the best.

Look at this #BeastMode face!
View attachment 206549

LOVE this! My guy is the same, very competitive...will need to remind him that he needs to have fun

 

[Keels]

One more pic, because she looks like a badass!!



We finished about eight minutes after the "winner", so she was super angry that the confetti cannons weren't for her.

And then all of us post-race:

 

[keahgirl8]

No streaking here either. Need to have my rest days.

Same here.

 

[Baloo in MI]

My 7 year old son has started to take an interest in running and I've been taking him out on some short little runs over the last week and a bit. I make sure to treat it like a "real" run and we drive over to the park and I make a big deal about it for him...he seems to be enjoying it and wants to try to do a 5K in the Spring (he tells me his goal is 25 minutes haha...I said that might be a bit ambitious).

Anyone else run with their young children? What do you do to keep it fun and interesting for them? I really don't want to push him at all and burn him out on it, but I also want him to appreciate that it is something he needs to work at and take seriously as well.

So cool! I have shared before, so sorry for the repitition. I run 5K's with my daughter - she is 9. It started when she was 7. What we do is pick out one 5K during each season. I try to find themed/fun ones in different areas. She is super active in general, so we do not do a lot of formal training. But a few times each month I take her out on a run after I have completed mine. My goal is to make sure that she is having fun, following her own motivation, and setting the pace. I let her decide when to speed up or slow down. I do "reel" her in a bit at the beginning, but then I just let her go and follow beside and behind.

It is a HUGE joy to watch her push herself, and she really pushes. I have tried to focus on sharing that I am proud of her effort and running through some pain and not focusing on her age group placing (she has won for her age group, or at least placed, in each race. And I am so proud of her. My hope is that the fun atmosphere of the races and my no pressure approach is keeping it light and fun for her. I would love to continue this into her adulthood. Eventually she will be faster than me though - probably sooner than I want to admit.

Our next race is this weekend, really looking forward to it. Enjoy the runs with your son!

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD(s): 15 days is the longest "streak" I have done.

Running with kids....yes....we typically do one or two events each year with our now 17 and 14 year old kids. They do not typically go out and run on a daily basis on their own but both play lacrosse and running is required by their coaches. We try to pick fun events and have recently done the Hot Chocolate 15k in Philly, Disney World 5k and 10k, and Shamrock 8k. No pressure or expectations, just want them to have a great time and enjoy the experience.

 

[opusone]

QOTD: Today, let's discuss good running form. What do you think about while running in order to maintain good running form?

ATTQOD: a PT taught me this, but every half mile or so during a run, I remind myself to tighten my core (chest out, stomach tight) and tighten my glutes (which took a little practice). When I do this, I immediately feel my form improve. It's especially useful on longer runs to periodically make sure all muscles are activated and sharing the workload.

@CheapRunnerMike: you get tomorrow's question!