Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
BewareOfDragons · 07/08/2017 21:44

I would have let 2 of mine do it on their own at Age 6, but not the 3rd. Why? Because they are different children, some would have no problem with this and the other one would have had.

MsHarry · 07/08/2017 21:45

Are marshalls DBS checked? Sometimes telling children to implicitly trust certain people is dangerous. Think priests, celebrities etc. I'm not hysterical, I just think 6 is on the young side.

TinDogTavern · 07/08/2017 21:45

I went to a junior parkrun with my niece and nephew and they were in the car in front of mine with their mum. The marshals did not want to let me into the car park. They were very vigilant and it was extremely well-marshalled. Let him do it.

TheresTheFlyingFuckIDontGive · 07/08/2017 21:45

One of the rules (the biggest rule, in fact) about junior parkruns is that no child is out of sight of a marshal at any time. Every marshal can see the two marshals on either side of them too. Junior parkruns are fabulous and I can't wait to take my daughter to one. She's only 1 though, so she has a while to wait.

I'm ED of an adult/5k parkrun though, so she's used to seeing the runners.

MsHarry · 07/08/2017 21:47

That sounds reassuring Theres

ineedamoreadultieradult · 07/08/2017 21:47

Running the pavements it's a no but park run is so safe it's really hard to see what you expect to happen in those 6 minutes. The Marshall's all have sight of each other and therefore the runners are always in view to at least one Marshall. There are other runners and parents and the rest of the inhabitants of the busy park at 9am are unlikely to be on the prowl for small boys.

Mumof56 · 07/08/2017 21:47

If it's well organised with marshals erc. I don't see the issue.

sirfredfredgeorge · 07/08/2017 21:47

MsHarry The event director is DBS checked, individual marshalls are not necessarily.

TheresTheFlyingFuckIDontGive · 07/08/2017 21:47

Marshals aren't DBS checked, but the ED (the person in charge) is. parkrun isn't something to be scared of, not at all.

caffelatte100 · 07/08/2017 21:48

Sounds like it would be fine, I would be fine with this. Can't believe how paranoid how people are in such an organised event.

Blowninonabreeze · 07/08/2017 21:49

Is it a busy parkrun?

My older 2 DDs have done parkrun solo since their youngest sibling was born (when they were 6&8) they tended to stick together initially then inevitably split up.

We go to a pretty busy event, plenty of people about and they had strict instructions to stay by the funnel at the end.

So yes, I would.
Would probably lose the watch though! It just gives him something to worry about

MsHarry · 07/08/2017 21:49

Of course it shouldn't be. But, people who like children in the wrong way are drawn to this type of thing for the wrong reasons. It's unpalatable but true. A high viz is not a halo.

Delilah21D00LoT · 07/08/2017 21:50

Just in case the OP has not seen the Rules section of the Junior ParkRun website.

And yes, I do think YABU.

Please note that all under 11s must be within arm's reach of a parent, guardian or other designated adult of the parents' choice at our 5k events. This is an insurance requirement and local event teams have the authority to remove the results of juniors who persistently flout this non-negotiable rule.

Self explanatory really.

Blatherskite · 07/08/2017 21:50

I'm a junior parkrun Run Director (and a parkrun Run Director too in fact). Courses have to be agreed by parkrun HQ and there are far more rules regarding location and access for the junior event than there are for the 5k parkruns. Courses must be marshalled enough that children are basically passed from marshal to marshal along the route and no child should ever be out of sight of at least one adult. All RDs must have an enhanced DBS check to allow us to care for a lost or injured child if necessary. If he were to fall then we would hope a fellow runner or nearby marshal would help (they're all asked to carry a mobile so that they can call for help rather than leave their spot) or at worst, the tail walker would collect him up as they pass. If he's a confident runner and surrounded by other children running, he should be as safe as is possible.

If you're worried, I would suggest talking to your local Run Director. They'll be able to advise you on the best place to stand to be able to see as much of the course as possible (at ours, they are in sight of the start/finish for about 90% of the course) and will be able to let you know the procedures that are in place to keep your child safe.

MandateMandy · 07/08/2017 21:51

Is there no way you can see him going around? The way our junior park run is set up is like a long loop at first, and then around a large boating pond. I can cheer my son off at the start then cross the course to watch him coming down the other side then walk on a bit and watch him all the way around the pond. He's probably out of my sight for about 30 seconds.

Even if I couldn't see him, I would have no problems with letting him run it alone. It is heavily marshalled with plenty of other adults, children and young people running and he's very sensible. But you know the route and your child best.

Blatherskite · 07/08/2017 21:51

Delilah21D00LoT those are the rules for the 5k parkrun events. junior parkrun is 2k and does not require a parent to run with the child.

compostheap · 07/08/2017 21:52

My 9, 7 and 5 year olds do junior parkrun most weekends, and there's always 2 out of 3 of them doing it without an adult, as they go at different paces, and I have a toddler too.
I feel very comfortable with the whole set up, and think it's a great atmosphere and good opportunity for them to feel independent. I really don't get the mindset of not feeling comfortable having them out of view for 6 minutes, or that some undesirables are going to have dragged themselves out of bed for 9am on a Sunday morning to lurk round the course. Maybe we just live in a more laid back part of the country.
GPS sounds like a good idea if it'll reassure you, but do keep on going - that is a really fast runner you have!

sirfredfredgeorge · 07/08/2017 21:53

Delilah21D00LoT I've heard it described that there is a junior parkrun with such rules, but I've not been able to find one. Which is it?

GrannyD57 · 07/08/2017 21:53

At our local Junior Parkrun there are a lot of marshals at close intervals watching the runners constantly. I can't see any way a child could go missing. The organisers take child safety very seriously

Iwannasnack · 07/08/2017 21:53

That arms length rule is for the 5k adult event.
OP I think it's fine. It's an organised event and there are plenty of other kids and marshalls who would see if anything happened. Don't start making him scared and put him off running.

KidLorneRoll · 07/08/2017 21:54

If he's reasonably sensible then I think it's fine. The whole point of junior parkrun is to let younger ones have a run without needing an adult, and the course will be really well marshalled.

Original poster
user2319978 · 07/08/2017 21:54

Thanks Delilah - but that rule is for the adult 5k event, I don't think (but I might be wrong) that it applies to junior parkrun?

OP posts:
TheresTheFlyingFuckIDontGive · 07/08/2017 21:54

See, I've marshalled at lots of junior parkruns and never have I seen anyone who looks dodgy. It's just too busy, even with 30 kids, for them to do anything.

And yes, I agree with a PP about losing the watch. He's too young to be worrying about times and a watch. Plus, I know with my watch, nobody can track me as it only saves once I've finished and actually pressed 'save'.

You could buy him a parkrun wristband and put your mobile number on it as emergency contact. Google ERS parkrun wristband or there is a link in your results email.

MsHarry · 07/08/2017 21:54

I would let my child do this BUT you say we've not been in a position to run so if there are 2 of you can you not stand at different parts of the course so he can always be seen?

museumum · 07/08/2017 21:55

The rules quoted above by Delilah21D00LoT are for ADULT parkrun not junior parkrun!!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread