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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

6 year old running 2k with no adult

173 replies

user2319978 · 07/08/2017 21:14

Posting here for traffic :)

My just turned 6 year old loves running. He regularly attends junior parkrun events. The courses are 2k. Recently we've not been in a position to run with him and I've felt really uneasy allowing him to run the 2k on his own. He is out of my sight for about 6 minutes while he completes lap one, then another 6 minutes to complete lap 2.

I am buying him a GPS watch so I can track him, and he can SOS me if needed. I have lots of friends with 5 year olds who run the races with no parents.

What are people's thoughts on the junior park run events? (if you don't know what they are - they are weekly organised runs for 4 to 14 year olds - 2k distance, marshalls round the course. In our local event there are about 150 children running each week)

Am I being unreasonable to worry like hell for the whole 6miutes he's out of my sight? (that someone will kidnapp him, he'll get whisked away by a paedophile, he'll fall and no-one will help him .... etc ....) Is the GPS phone (with SOS and I can listen to him as he runs) enough? would you let your 5 or 6 year old run in these events with a GPS watch?

thanks for your tips!

OP posts:
Aeroflotgirl · 07/08/2017 21:16

I woulden't at that age, they are still too young.

OwnLittleIsland · 07/08/2017 21:17

I wouldn't. Can he buddy up with someone? it's a reason I haven't taken mine although I'd let my 9 year old I wouldn't let the 6 year old and I can't run!!

raspberrysuicide · 07/08/2017 21:18

I can't imagine he will be entirely on his own. There will be other people and children and marshals around the course.

Andcake · 07/08/2017 21:18

Too Young...do you know any other parents who run with their kids who can keep an eye for you

MouseholeCat · 07/08/2017 21:19

I think YABU, but obviously, I don't know the area/park. It's chaperoned with lots of other kids. Are there spots where you feel the marshals aren't covering on the course?

Syc4moreTrees · 07/08/2017 21:19

I wouldn't. Sorry

LimitedSedition · 07/08/2017 21:19

I'm as slack as chuff, but that's too young, sorry.

AVY1 · 07/08/2017 21:19

DD does this but only ever with one or both of us. I don't think she'd want to do it without us anyway but no, I wouldn't be comfortable with her being out of sight.

ThomasRichard · 07/08/2017 21:20

I wish the junior parkrun was on a Saturday too so DS could do it. I'm way too slow for his liking!

There are marshals and lots of other children, it's not like he's running round the woods on his own. He'll be fine.

Original poster
user2319978 · 07/08/2017 21:20

friends have said before they'll keep an eye, but then he runs ahead (he's quite fast for age), so ends up on his own! I don't want to stop him doing them as he loves runing! was hoping the GPS watch would be enough, but seems people think I should leave it til he's older ?

OP posts:
eatingonlyapples · 07/08/2017 21:21

Sounds like it's pretty well organised? Aren't the marshals there to help if a kid hurts themself, or if someone is lurking around (however unlikely that may be)?

GoldenOrb · 07/08/2017 21:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertrandRussell · 07/08/2017 21:21

Are there marshals and lots of other people running?

Allice · 07/08/2017 21:21

I marshal at junior park run. We have marshals on every point that a child could leave the park, I can only talk about our event but they are lots of hi-viz'd marshals and parents around, my 9 year old has ran it alone for the last year (since it started) I'd be happy for him to have ran at 6.

NoqontroI · 07/08/2017 21:21

I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that tbh.

Sirzy · 07/08/2017 21:22

Do they not have any rules? I know at the normal parkruns under 11s have to be within arms reach of an adult although this is often ignored

I would at least get him an armband with your phone number on or let him carry his own barcode so you easily be contacted.

SocksRock · 07/08/2017 21:22

My now-7yo has been doing junior parkrun since her was 5. I let him run on his own, the course is heavily marshalled, they are never out of sight of a marshall and he knows that at the end he collects his token and waits at the finish funnel for me and his younger sister. His big sister (9) runs on her own as well and they both wait at the finish funnel for me.

BertrandRussell · 07/08/2017 21:23

If it's a junior park run presumably it's set up with children running alone in mind? It's not just a random park-it's a proper event?

Girty999 · 07/08/2017 21:23

I Marshall at parkrun and my 6 year old runs alone, I can see the Marshall before me and after me so the children are safe and can be seen at all times, some of our faster children finish then support the others by running around again x

Original poster
user2319978 · 07/08/2017 21:23

Thanks Allice, thats making me feel betetr! It's such a hard decision. It is a very very well organised park run, but being out of sight so long just makes my imagination run away with itself! Such a hard decision.

OP posts:
UsernameInvalid66 · 07/08/2017 21:23

With all those marshals around I'd be astonished if anything awful happened. You said there are other children around the same age who do it alone - so the marshals will be very attuned to watching out for the kids. I think it will be good for him in several ways to do this alone, but if you can't help worrying, the GPS watch is a good compromise.

By the way, I'm full of admiration that he enjoys running and is confident to do it on his own. I hope his interest continues as he gets older!

FoodieToo · 07/08/2017 21:24

Can you not go with him ? 2k is nothing.

BertrandRussell · 07/08/2017 21:26

If it's well organised it's a lovely brainer. Let him do it.

SocksRock · 07/08/2017 21:26

Oh, and his PB (age 7) is 10:13

Not a chance in hell could I keep out with that, even if the 4yo could. She does it in a more sedate 16min ish and I run with her because that's all I can manage

Original poster
user2319978 · 07/08/2017 21:26

Good to hear Girty... ! I'll see how we get on with this GPS thing! (run round again! ... blimey they're fit!)

OP posts:
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