My daughter, now 5 1/2, has been running for a few months with a YMCA kids group. Usually for 7 +, but the coaches (just runners, not really prof. coaches) thought she would do fine in the group, and she has (my amazing girl!). She has now run/walked a 5k (mostly run) and will do another this weekend. She runs fine (other than pounding pavement with shoes) and enjoys it, but I am trying to research if this really is too early for her to start that sort of distance. She will run 2 miles at a time, with short walking breaks, with no problem. I have a feeling that we need to tone it down to prevent problems with her joints and bones in the future. Does anyone, with experience, have any suggestions to help me decide what is best for her. I am seeing a lot of conflicting ideas on the web and need some solid information to make the right decision for her.
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None here, sorry. Have you considered doing some extensive Google searching on the subject. This is a very good question...
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Hey Tim, I hear what you are saying about your daughter, my 6 year old son has been running and doing mini Triathlons since he was 3. The big concerns as per the Coaching Association of Canada are that you don't stress joints and growth plates at this young age, and that their cardiovascular systems aren't ready for aggressive development. The area's to focus on untill about 11-12 years of age are:
1) Speed, so drill or exercises that promote fast leg turnover and good form. Not necesarily "SPEED" but efficiency of movement speed.
2)Co-ordination and Blance, Agility type exercises like changing directions, balancing, hopping, leaping etc...
3)Flexibiliy/Stretchin in moderation
4)Endurance/Easy running in moderation, so if she is comfortable running those kind of distances be sure to break it up into 5-10min chunks to give her body some rest, then during a race she can run more but that is infrequent so the risk of injury is less. Running esspecially on pavement can be hard on the growth plates in their legs, chose softer surfaces like trail, grass or a track when able.
Also don't let her run in Noname shoes, get her a quality pair of runners and protect her young feet, she'll thank you for it later.
Happy racing, hope that helps a bit.
Jas
1) Speed, so drill or exercises that promote fast leg turnover and good form. Not necesarily "SPEED" but efficiency of movement speed.
2)Co-ordination and Blance, Agility type exercises like changing directions, balancing, hopping, leaping etc...
3)Flexibiliy/Stretchin in moderation
4)Endurance/Easy running in moderation, so if she is comfortable running those kind of distances be sure to break it up into 5-10min chunks to give her body some rest, then during a race she can run more but that is infrequent so the risk of injury is less. Running esspecially on pavement can be hard on the growth plates in their legs, chose softer surfaces like trail, grass or a track when able.
Also don't let her run in Noname shoes, get her a quality pair of runners and protect her young feet, she'll thank you for it later.
Happy racing, hope that helps a bit.
Jas
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