Tough mudder for kids - 5k

[Poormiddlechild]

Has anyone done one of these? I’m doing it with my 7 year old, but panicking now it will be a bit too hard for her as 5k is actually quite a distance!

It's a very long way for a 7yo to run IMO. Junior Parkrun is 2km as a guide.
My DD1 is doing a triathlon in July and will be a month past her 9th birthday. It is a 150m swim, 1.6km bike, and 1.2km run. She is pretty fit (recently swam a 2.5km distance event in a very respectable time), but I suspect will find the triathlon exhausting. There is no way she would choose/agree to entering a 5km run, although running is her least favourite out of swim/bike/run.

Do you do Junior Parkrun together? Maybe try it and see how you get on. You can gauge from that if 5km is possible or not.

Yes I’m quite worried now as I booked it for something she can do with me, as she struggles with all other competitive sports. I hope I haven’t set her up to fail 😬

Has anyone else done it with their child?

You don't have to run, you can go at your own speed. You will probably find a lot of kids/parents are just walking between the obstacles.

@Aaron95 oh that’s good to hear, thank you! I really wanted to do something to boost her confidence

I'm sure you will have a good time. The ones I've done are not really competitive events. A lot of people will be helping each other and you have will have to queue at some of the obstacles depending how quickly people get through them.

Is there a good mixture of ages @Aaron95 ? Do they get a medal?

I don't know which one the OP is going to but certainly the one near us had kids of all ages and everyone finishing got a medal.

Have you booked the right one? The kids one seems to only be 1 mile which sounds a bit less daunting.

Definitely the right one @Bunnycat101 .

My 6 and 8 year olds do adult Parkrun in what I think are decent times for their age. I’m not sure what they’d make of a tough mudder, but so long as you are prepared to walk some of it and take your time, and most importantly present it as fun!, I think they’ll be fine.

The 5k event says 13 plus though?

My youngest has been doing parkrun on a Saturday and junior parkrun the next day since they were 5. They walk, run, walk. The obstacles break it up for them so the 5km won’t feel a grind. I’m sure you’ll have a great time.

It's a bit of a stretch from park run to tough mudder, she's underage anyway

I don't think my 8 year old would manage it. We run together weekly but only around 2.5km. The mud would make it harder too.

Have you already booked it? Race for life do a ‘pretty muddy kids’ one now that looks a little easier. In the meantime junior park run is great to build up stamina.

The 5k is over 13s. There is a shorter course for children 5 to 12.

Check what you booked. The onflatsbles one is 5k fine as walking between inflatables
https://www.ukrunningevents.co.uk/events/inflatable-5k?gclid=CjwKCAjwscGjBhAXEiwAswQqNEr6veROjQMEcNCeESYil7kKgd_obTpesP_UbArEIfvbhDOpF-sb9xoCRlAQAvD_BwE
The mudder serms to be 1 mile for kids

This looks awesome!!

It’s the pretty muddy one for race for life so it is 5k, and she is old enough

Oh that looks better, only children do the obstacles so less mud to contend with afterwards!

I did one with my DC a last year and we walked between obstacles. They absolutely loved it! Take bin bags for their clothes and trainers for afterwards:)

Brilliant sounds really good!

My son has run 5km at 6, he’s 7 now and we are doing the 5km kids muddy run in June. He’s also doing the 1 mile tough muddler run. It depends on the child I think, as my middle (5) is nowhere near being able to run 2km never mind 5! But eldest is very athletic. She will be able to walk it anyway, you will both have fun 😊

My DGS runs the adult parkrun with him Mum. He is not 8 until July. He could actually run it quicker but he can't because my DD can't go any quicker. They are under 30 mins though.