Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Original poster

how could i incorporate my 5yr old ds into my running...

20 replies

juicychops · 31/05/2010 20:12

without the pressure or risk of injury and purely for his entertainment and fun??

i am now doing a few mile runs a few times per week but there are a few times where i would like to do a run but have no one to look after ds.

i was thinking maybe i could take him with me to the little field by my house to do a few laps, let him have a play with the stop watch and time me a few times, and maybe doing a few little sprinting races which will incorporate some fartlek training for me.

do you think this sounds like something ds would enjoy without benig too much for him?

its not a big field so he would be able to sit down and rest with me being able to watch him the whole time so thats not an issue. Maybe he could even take his football and have a mess around in the middle while i run around the outside?

how does this all sound? He runs everywhere and can run for ages without stopping when he goes football or when hes in the park so i dont think its something he wouldn't enjoy if done in the right way

what do you think??

OP posts:
fridayschild · 31/05/2010 20:18

The running track near us has a long jump sandpit which is not used much. I have taken DS1 and DS2 there once or twice to dig while I do speed training. They lasted about 20 minutes (aged 6 and 5).

I will have another go soon, to get DS1 to practice for sports day as well.

I also thought about DSs on bikes while I ran? I tried with DS1 when he was still using stabilisers but he was too little to go very far so that was not good either.

Original poster
juicychops · 31/05/2010 20:26

thats a good idea i never thought about taking ds's bike! excellent

OP posts:
sanfairyann · 31/05/2010 21:01

I just came up wih the same brilliant idea of taking the kids to the footie field while I do a few speed laps. there are always other kids there and they can join in a kickaround - would your ds be happy to do that or is he a bit young yet?

Original poster
juicychops · 31/05/2010 22:42

yeah fairyann my ds is always happy to play with other kids he would probably enjoy that

OP posts:
MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 31/05/2010 22:48

My DD (5) likes running with me! And my DD1 (7) will come on her scooter. I still have to have another adult for hte little ones, but it shows it can be done!

MollieO · 31/05/2010 22:52

I'm planning to try running with ds (also 5). Rather than taking his bike (I can't run that fast ) I thought I'd get him to take his scooter. Means he will have to make a bit of effort but also won't get too far ahead of me for it to be unsafe.

Mrs Wobble does your ds actually run with you? If so how far do you go?

maryz · 31/05/2010 23:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mamalovesmojitos · 01/06/2010 08:35

very happy to find this thread! i'm hoping to start some gentle running but have nobody to mind dd (6). she loves running herself and is much fitter than i. i'll definitely try to bring her with me now.

hoarsewhisperer · 01/06/2010 12:55

i do lots of running with ds on his bike. Admittedly he was 6 when we started, but we would find a nice safe track through the woods andhe thought it was great fun. Plus in warm weather he carries the water bottle on the bvack of his bike and occasionally we would stop to have a little rest as he got tired and wanted a drink. now we go off on adventures together and make a bit of a trip of it...that way i can get a proper long run in, but i have to just accept that we are going to have to stop halfway round so that he can sit by the beach and have an ice lolly and a drink.

reddaisy · 03/06/2010 22:58

I have just been reading this thread and although my dd is not yet old enough to join me exercising what you all describe is a lovely way to introduce children to regular fitness.

jamaisjedors · 13/06/2010 19:50

Yes, bike is great. DS1 is nearly 6 and this morning we went for a 5k together for the second time.

I didn't think he would make it all the way round - he's a bit weedy! - but he was fine (had to walk up a steep hill though).

He is really excited about it.

I can't wait for DS2 to learn to ride a bike and then we can all go together.

It was fun having him there although I like a run on my own too to clear my head once a weeK.

NotQuiteCockney · 14/06/2010 08:30

Kids on bikes and parents running works pretty well. My DS2 is only 5, but will bike 20km (ok, he was pretty tired for the last 5km or so).

GooseyLoosey · 14/06/2010 08:32

Dh runs round and round the local park/playground whilst the dcs play. Of course whether you can do this depends on how much of an eye you need to keep on them in your local park.

StealthPolarBear · 14/06/2010 08:33

right I am inspired to get fit
as soon as the DCs are 5

NQC your DS cycles 20km

frakkit · 14/06/2010 08:38

Bikes/scooters are fab, stopwatches are good for short laps, racing is also good if you're doing laps - they sprint as fast as they can and you carry on at a sensible steady pace!

BudaisintheZONE · 14/06/2010 08:46

Some great ideas here. DS is football made but is not very fit although thinks he is. Not great on his bike either so doing some of these would help us both.

jamaisjedors · 14/06/2010 09:58

20K! wow!

Mind you DS was plotting last night where else we could go to go a bit further - it's currently 5 or 6k.

deepdarkwood · 14/06/2010 10:04

oh, inspiring thread - think ds & I will head off for a run/bike sometime soon

NotQuiteCockney · 14/06/2010 19:52

My DS2 is completely mad, fwiw.

Another option, with smaller kids underfoot, is to do swapsies with other mums. We used to get together at a local park, with babies in buggies or whatever, and take turns running.

nappyzoneloveschinesefood · 14/06/2010 19:57

my dd rides her bike with my water stash on board. I havent found a solution for the 3 yr old but im always runnign round after him anyway!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page