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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to allow my 6 year old to run a 5K race

42 replies

GiveMeSomeSpace · 07/01/2013 21:39

Our 6 year old wants to run a 5k race and we're wondering whether we should let him. Is it too much for a child of this age?

OP posts:
IneedAgoldenNickname · 07/01/2013 21:41

I did race for life with my 2 when they were 6 and 4, don't know how far that is though? And we didn't run it either. :)

ILoveTIFFANY · 07/01/2013 21:41

The usual 5k runs for adults?

NoNoNoMYDoIt · 07/01/2013 21:41

Yes. Not recommended for under 11s although plenty do it. It isn't the distance - they are physically capable of it. It is the repetitive nature of running and impact on immature and developing joints that is dangerous. Our club running coach recommends no more than 1.5miles for those under 11. However you will see plenty of smaller kids doing park runs regularly. Ultimately your choice. But I wouldn't recommend it and won't let my 6yr old do it.

NoNoNoMYDoIt · 07/01/2013 21:46

Actually runnersworld says it is under 9 not under 11. In any case - no more than 3k (which is less than 2 mikes) till 9.
maximum running distances for kids

Original poster
GiveMeSomeSpace · 07/01/2013 21:46

It's the local parkrun. There are plenty of little ones down there. There are 8 year olds running 23mins.

We're not intending it to be a regular or frequent thing, plus this one is off road.

He's dead keen as some of his mates do it but just wanted to get some objective views from you lovely guys and gals.

OP posts:
Original poster
GiveMeSomeSpace · 07/01/2013 21:49

Thanks for the link - v helpful

OP posts:
Nospringflower · 07/01/2013 21:53

Funny I just got in touch with organisers about a 5K for my 11 year old as the website wasn't clear. Most things I read said for a 10K you had to be 15 and 14 for a 5K. The run we were looking at said 14 too but said you could do 5K fun runs at any age so the main thing seemed to be that running federations put restrictions on.

NoNoNoMYDoIt · 07/01/2013 21:53

I know. It is a toughie. My DS wants to do it too. But I won't let him. Have found him a couple of 1-2 mile races - fun runs - he can do so we have done those instead. Not worth the risk IMO. But each parent needs to decide. Like with Greggs really Wink

KellyElly · 07/01/2013 22:04

I would check with a sports professional that knows what they're talking about. It does seem a long race for such a young child.

KellyElly · 07/01/2013 22:05

who knows what they're talking about!

dexter73 · 07/01/2013 22:07

My dd did the Race for life with me when she was 7. She loved it. It was a one off and doesn't seem to have done her any harm (she is 15 now and still has the medal!).

dexter73 · 07/01/2013 22:07

That was 5k btw.

Squeakygate · 07/01/2013 22:10

Im planning to do some park runs later this year (when i get fitter) hoping to tale dd with me. She will be 7 or just gone 8 when i start. So yanbu.
Park runs encourage children- have a look at the faq bit.

Meglet · 07/01/2013 22:14

I know a couple of 7yr olds who do Park Run. I fully intend to drag mine out in a couple of years time.

Just as long as you don't tear off or expect them to do it very fast then I think it's fine.

4yo DD has already done a 1k fun run.

VoldemortsNipple · 07/01/2013 22:17

Parkrun is more of a fun run than a race. Is the course more than one lap? Our local one, that dh marshalls at, is 3 laps around the park. Maybe you could take him to do just part of the course.

Blatherskite · 07/01/2013 22:19

I got beaten by a 6 year old at our local parkrun a few weeks ago!

He was running with his Dad and seemed to love it, I was right behind them and heard the little boy insisting that Daddy got a shift on as he wanted to finish in under half an hour but he seemed very small to be doing it, especially when he's running it regularly.

My DS is 5 and talks about coming but I don't think I'd take him for a long while yet unless we ran at the back and he was riding his bike maybe. Running is very bad for little joints I would have thought.

shrimponastick · 07/01/2013 22:26

plenty of young children at my local parkrun. Most of them beat me

Original poster
GiveMeSomeSpace · 07/01/2013 22:35

Squeakygate don't wait - get yourself down to your local parkrun as soon as you can, You'll be hooked.

OP posts:
LimeLeafLizard · 07/01/2013 22:36

NoNo thanks for that link - I am a bit clueless about such things and DS (8) has been running 2 miles a couple of times a week over the school holidays. With football cancelled and the ground so wet, it is difficult to find a way for him to get enough exercise otherwise. I hope he'll be ok...

FredFredGeorge · 07/01/2013 22:40

The UK Athletics/IAAF distances are extremely short, and there's no current scientific evidence to back their distances, they're just from (educated?) guesswork really. Plenty of children run further.

NoNoNoMYDoIt · 07/01/2013 22:47

There are too many teenagers with osgood-schlatters who started running at an early stage for me to take the risk with DS. So he does a range of stuff and plenty of walking. I don't want to take the risk.

DebiTheScot · 07/01/2013 22:50

My 6 year old son does parkrun. There is a subtle but important difference between parkrun and a race I think. I wouldn't be keen on him running 5k on the road and he doesn't do parkrun every week and doesn't do any other running do so I'm happy for him to do it. But if he was in any pain during or after I'd stop him.

I wouldn't let a child that young run it on their own though. I run with ds and while I do encourage him to keep running (he does run all the way & is v even paced) I'd never let him push himself hard.

FredFredGeorge · 07/01/2013 22:54

NoNoNoMYDoIt Do you prevent them playing things like football too? Or other activities involving running or jumping? As they are just as likely - or indeed being overweight from not doing any sporting activity, it's not only associated with sport.

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 07/01/2013 23:07

I haven't read anything at all that would stop me allowing a 6 year old to take part in this kind of thing a couple/few times a year. It's not as though they'll be doing it several times a week.