Couch to 4k for children

[RufusTheReindeer]

Is there anything similar for childen?

Ds1 and dd at 14 and 16 are pretty good hobby runners, they dont run far at the moment but i am trying to encourage the habit

They ran today with DH who runs beautifully but usually can't be bothered but at least they can go out together if they want to

I would love to run but find it very difficult due to being lazy, overweight and apparently not as good as breathing as i thought. Did try running a year or so back but managed to injure myself

Ds2 is 12 and takes after his mother excepthe is probably more self conscious. I want to try and encourage him to excercise like his siblings but i don't really know where to start with him

I was going to walk with him and try the occasional jog but i don't know whether there is a better system or whether anybody has any suggestions. I thought i would learn along with him

His running wasnt bad at all when he was smaller and i do realise that not everyone enjoys running and it might not be his thing

You can do the nhs c25k plan at any age. To make it more interesting, find your local parkrun (free, Saturday, 9am, 5k) and make it a family event. Plenty of people walk/run it when they begin going.

The secret is to run much slower in the run sections than you think btw, that way you learn to manage your breathing etc

Thanks for that CMOT

Will look it up again, will try that with the breathing as well

Of course its c25k!!!! No wonder i couldn't find it when i googled

I did c25k with my DD and ds aged 8&10 and they were fine. DD is a little whippet so just bounced along beside us, while ds and I were pink faced and panting, but we did it! I did it with a friend a few years back and got to the 5k, which has seemed impossible on the first day! I started to totally love running and went on to really enjoy running until I injured myself.

Having had a few months a year or so off running I plan to start again in the new year. Will see if ds wants to join me again. We used to get up early on school days and be out 7.30-8am and then have a shower before school. It was fun as it was still dark at that time of day so a bit of an adventure for him!

Thanks mark

Will put c25k into action tomorrow

Enjoy c25k tomorrow. I'm not a natural runner and hated exercise previously and I finished c25k last year. I'm very slow but I do run and I love it. I think it'd be a great introduction for your DS and you and a fantastic thing to do together.

I very much second the parkrun suggestion above too. I started when I finished c25k and now my whole family do it, DH and DTs (8), they do the junior parkrun too. At 2k that might be a good option for your DS if you have one near? The atmosphere is so supportive, it's a great introduction.

DD told me yesterday that her favourite thing this year was starting running.

I'd say C25k and parkrun too.

Parkrun is a great goal because it attracts a wide variety of runners, and there are the t-shirts as rewards for completing various numbers of runs.

The junior parkrun is 4 to 14.

Thanks

I did have a look at the local park run but its adults only and the junior one is miles away

I did see that children can join in the adult one so we may be walking it

Ds1 seemed interested...You're not the one i'm after mate!!

Age 12+ can do park run without accompanying adult, around here.
Walk is cool, do what you enjoy.

My two do the adult parkrun as well. They have to be in arms reach because of their age, much to their disgust . Loads of people do a mix of running and walking, or walk it all. And the t shirts are a huge draw, ten runs for the juniors is a good goal.

I missed mrs comment re t shirts

Will look that up...nice to have an incentive