Running with a 5yo- tips?

[FloatyBoaty]

Hello-

Am a very very very lapsed, formerly q good runner. To give an idea.... was running 10-15k c5 times p/w. Had hit the “magic” 7min mile times etc .... 6 years ago (!!!!). I’m now 3 stone heavier and struggle to run 30 seconds without getting out of breath. Haven’t really run at all since month 6 of pregnancy.

Im addressing my weight with diet (and covid...currently) but once recovered from this blasted virus (again) I’d like to start running again. Will have to be very gentle start as back and knees not in great shape (suspect mostly due to weight) - but 5yo DS is keen to run too (ideal as a LP so means don’t need to worry about childcare etc).

Does any one have any tips for us- for me as a returner and DS as a junior beginner? He’s super fit. Super bouncy. Has asthma but not exercise induced and has never had an attack (he’s more of a morning cough/viral wheeze sort of guy).

I was enthusiastic about running before DS but not into the “world” (so wasn’t reading magazines or part of a group or anything - just had a PT who gave me tips on form) so not really technically knowledgable...

Any and all tips/ success stories welcome!

He's old enough to be barcoded.

Do you have a junior parkrun nearby? I'd try that - you can accompany him round, but adults can't take a time themselves, but you'll still get a2km run and she what he's like with a slightly more sustained effort than dashing round like a mad thing stop start over short distances. You'll also get to meet other parents with running DC, which might give you a chance to chat to them about what they do and if there's anything else on in your area.

not the same age (my dc are teens) but we did c25k together.

from memory when starting out and looking them up dc should only do 1k per school year of structured running (obviously running on the playground can easily add up to more but that's not steady pace)

tbh give it a go. either he likes it or he doesn't.

Can DC ride a bike?
If you want to go more than a couple of km, I'd get them to bike/scoot sometimes.

Things I did with younger kids:
Them ride, me run
Go to a place with a smallish loop (ours was about half a km), and I ran clockwise, while they went anticlockwise.
Fartkek style training

Park run (wasn't available where we were)

DC now 10 and 12. I did 7km with the oldest this morning. Well, I did 7km. I send him on ahead - usually to the next landmark then he runs back to me. So he probably did 8/9km.

Don't force them, let them go ahead if their natural pace is faster, stop when they want/need to.

Definitely junior parkrun op, and possibly normal parkrun too once you know he can do 5k. People at my local one have kids with them, they just need to know to not get in the way. I run with my 5 yo, there's sometimes a bit of stop/starting when it's just us but he's great at parkrun! Sometimes the benefit of a run is outweighed by the coffee shop visit which I may use as a motivating bribe afterwards though

Like a pp I'd sometimes stick mine on a bike and I'd run alongside for 5k or so (have one DC who doesn't particularly like running!)

Definitely try junior parkrun if you have one nearby. He might be a natural and just run all the way but the younger ones often need help with a bit of pacing so they don’t set off too fast. Or do c25k intervals with him. He shouldn’t be doing more than 5k at that age so if you want to go longer I’d stick him on bike or scooter if you can.

I did C25K last year during the hell that was homeschooling @FloatyBoaty, my DTs were 4 at the time. They'd scoot/ bike next to me for a bit then I'd put them in the small play park near us, I'd run up and down next to it whilst they played (I could see them all the time). It was boring but better for us than me trying to get them to stay with me!

DTS1 does junior parkrun now, I try to keep up with him but am generally unsuccessful