First park run with DS(11) - any tips

[cheminotte]

I’ve been running for years and been an occasional park runner for the last year (about once a month). I’ve been on short runs with DS in the past year (about 3-5k) but no particular routine and stopping for a bit of walking on the way. He’s reasonably fit, cycles, and happily does walks of 6-10k.
He’s agreed to try park run with me next Saturday but I’m not sure how to make it as enjoyable as possible for him.
I normally do it in 25-26mins so start near the front, but I reckon with a walk / run combo it could take us twice that. Should we just start near the back, and jog slowly, overtaking when we can? It’s a busy one, there were over 500 people last time.

4 min run, 2 min walk intervals? I find with planned walking breaks it’s possible to go faster than with unplanned breaks, as he wouldn’t be completely exhausted before taking a break.

Walk run sounds sensible cheminotte. Has he got a friend or older sibling or even a dog he could run/ walk with? It can seem a long hard slog at that age(maybe at any age😁) when you're being overtaken and out on the course for 40 minutes or so. My youngest (12) runs best with a friend she can chat to and tbh they walk run together in a spurt, stop, walk pattern that drives me crackers.
Don't, whatever you do, be one of those parents who tells their child off for not running fast enough...

Did you do it? How was it?

Mine have started doing 5ks (5 & 8). The tricky bit is slowing them to maintain their stamina. Keeping arms length can be tricky when busy, but that's not an issue for 11+.

I’ve not done it yet, the plan is to do it next Saturday. No other friends (or dogs) unfortunately. He does seem to be ok on a run with me if I can keep him talking. He will just talk at me on his favourite subject and I listen. He doesn’t normally get my undivided attention for so long!
I know what you mean Pidgey , I think the 2nd lap will be tough.
4 + 2 sounds like a good idea dangermouse, I probably need to time that on my phone.

We took non-running DSs, 11 and 13, when we were on holiday with non-running DH. As ‘the runner’ (31min/5km) I promised that I would be last. 11yo thrashed the lot of us at 32 mins and (unfit) DH and I finished about 36 mins.

(Unlike our local Parkrun, they scan barcodes immediately and DS had handed his token in during the intervening 4 minutes. If DS does beat you, make sure he holds on to his token!)

Do not underestimate the competitive spirit of an 11 year old!!

Very pleased not to have needed to keep them within arms length though.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Haha, that’s funny squiggle .
He’s not generally very competitive but maybe against me is different!

I’m bumping my own thread so I can find it again on Saturday. Any further tips welcome.

Whatever time he does it in will be recorded as a PB, which feels good! Make sure he knows where the finish is so he can do a bit of a sprint to overtake some folk near the end ( but not in the funnel!) My ds loves being able to do a sprint finish, kids always seem to manage it, don't know where they get the energy!

My 10 year old likes a good old chat when we're running. He can be quite quiet but he'll really talk if we're doing stuff like this.

I also now struggle a bit to keep up. I'm about the same pace as you and 10 year old will be thrashing me very soon.

Just go and do it. He'll be fine. My 6 yr old gets round in 39 minutes with a mixture of running and walking. If he feels the need to walk we agree on a point where we will start running again and walk to that point. Sometimes I have jelly beans.

Just make it fun. I see the odd parent pulling a crying child round and lecturing them about trying harder and that's awful.

We did it!

Well done! I hope you both enjoyed it

He said he really enjoyed it and wants to do it again. I was wearing my finishers t shirt from a local 10k and as we were waiting for our coffee he asked if he could do it!
We mostly did 4min run, 1-2min walk. Could have gone longer at the beginning but the final 4 min was only 2 mins so I may adjust accordingly next time. Haribo given out after 1st lap (of 2).
Unfortunately his barcode fell out of my phone holder just before we left the house!