My kid wants to run on the road.

nutzzz123

Hi guys
Looking for some advice here with my kid. My daughter will be turning 8 after xmas and she has been running with our running club since she is 5 and absolutely loves it. She has trained on the track and grass for x-country, but she has started to pester me about running on the road with me. And I have to say im looking forward to the day when we do go running together but Im a little worried about the damage running on concrete could do to her at this early age. Am I been overly worried and it could do no harm or am I right in thinking that it could do some damage to her. I would be grateful if I could get some advice/opinions on this.

Cheers
nutz

helpisontheway

nutzzz123 wrote: »

Hi guys
Looking for some advice here with my kid. My daughter will be turning 8 after xmas and she has been running with our running club since she is 5 and absolutely loves it. She has trained on the track and grass for x-country, but she has started to pester me about running on the road with me. And I have to say im looking forward to the day when we do go running together but Im a little worried about the damage running on concrete could do to her at this early age. Am I been overly worried and it could do no harm or am I right in thinking that it could do some damage to her. I would be grateful if I could get some advice/opinions on this.

Cheers
nutz

The short answer is a definite NO!!! It will do damage to her growing bones,joints and muscles and could have huge negative implications down the line.IMO of course.

nutzzz123

helpisontheway wrote: »

The short answer is a definite NO!!! It will do damage to her growing bones,joints and muscles and could have huge negative implications down the line.IMO of course.

yeah my thoughts exactly....cheers for ur opinion mate

bourne99

Wow, I'd have thought 8 would be very early to start running? I didn't start cross country until I was 10/11, and even then it was only mixed in around soccer/rugby/tennis etc. which I think would have helped me develop all round when growing up? Sounds like maybe she's already doing enough running?

I don't have children, but if I did, I don't think I'd be encouraging serious running so early. But I'm no expert in this area whatsover - so other opinions might differ!

nutzzz123

bourne99 wrote: »

Wow, I'd have thought 8 would be very early to start running? I didn't start cross country until I was 10/11, and even then it was only mixed in around soccer/rugby/tennis etc. which I think would have helped me develop all round when growing up? Sounds like maybe she's already doing enough running?

I don't have children, but if I did, I don't think I'd be encouraging serious running so early. But I'm no expert in this area whatsover - so other opinions might differ!

I put her in the running club to keep active as they play games with the kids and it was herself who wanted to race. I never pushed her and have no intention of ever pushing her. She sees me out running alot and just keeps pestering to go with me. I think myself thats its too early but I was just wondering was it the protective parent in me saying she was too young

bourne99

nutzzz123 wrote: »

I put her in the running club to keep active as they play games with the kids and it was herself who wanted to race. I never pushed her and have no intention of ever pushing her. She sees me out running alot and just keeps pestering to go with me. I think myself thats its too early but I was just wondering was it the protective parent in me saying she was too young

wha? waaaaaiiit! I'm not at all giving out!! Sure it's much better that she is in the club than not - believe me I have little cousins who spend their days playing computer games and they're zombies and it's terrible! No, no, I'd say hat's off to you on her being in the club. Sorry I didn't mean to sound accusing - what I mean is that - she's maybe doing enough running with the club as it is, and that stepping it up to the point that she's going running on the road- that's all I'm questioning, ya know? Not the club part or your parenting etc.

Bloody Nipples

There's no doubt that road running can be tough on your body, so personally i'd leave it til she's old enough to take responsiblity for any injuries she accrues. You'd hate to feel like it's your fault if she does some damage to herself.

nutzzz123

thanks for all ur opinions, its what Ive asked for and the response I got is what I was hoping for tbh. Its the constant pestering made me question myself....:D

TheRoadRunner

Compromise and do part of your run on grass accompanied by your daughter if she wants to join you. Road running will do her no favors.

nutzzz123

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Compromise and do part of your run on grass accompanied by your daughter if she wants to join you. Road running will do her no favors.

its something i considered

WhitestBoyAlive

I thought doing high impact sports at young age improved bone density?

BeepBeep67

Everything in moderation, I would avoid the road and don't go to these extremes <link>, if anyone remembers the Budhia Singh story!

patfol

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Everything in moderation, I would avoid the road and don't go to these extremes <link>, if anyone rememebers the Budhia Singh story!

For what it's worth I think we sometimes over-estimate our kid's expectations. I also have an almost 8 year old big into running and know where you're coming from. With all due respect I think your 8 year old sees running on the road as the equivalent of kids playing dress-up -sees the adults doing it and wants to emulate. So why not indulge them! But be realistic... taking your kid road running is all about them! Forget your training schedule. This is a parenting moment -and not about your road running at all.
So forget about impact on skeletal systems and all that ****e - your child is 8. Bring them for a little run around the estate or road you live on and in their head they've now gone road running. This should keep them more than happy. Now you've fulfilled your parenting duties, put the kids to bed and go off and do your real road running.
If your serious about your running, it's not possible for you and your 8 year old to train together. But also if your serious about your parenting, it's still not possible for you and your 8 year old to train together.
But back to what I said earlier. I think to bring your kid for a little run outside of your own training programme will keep them more than happy and convinced that they're road running. Good luck!

SomeFool

I think it's fantastic that you inspire your daughter to be active. You could do worse than do a couple of laps of the local gaa pitch or park together on a saturday or sunday afternoon! Keep it fun and happy and it might become a healthy habit for life.

RoyMcC

Excellent post from patfol and that would be my definitive answer.

shels4ever

So taking a kid for a 5 min run on the road wont do them any good at the age or 8or so? From what I can see during the summer and any good day no all the kids do is run on roads but we dont hear people going on about stopping them playing kick the can for hours as its bad for their joints....So its only when your actually running that its bad for you..

robinph

I don't see how taking them for a run around the block once a week, or a run down the road to the park will do much harm. You may have to dress up in your full running kit though to make it look like a proper run which may then not be entirely suitable for then playing on the swings until they get bored and you run back home again though.

Woddle

My own daughter is 5 and also has expressed an interest in running. The odd time I take her on a 1/4 of a mile loop around the block, keeps her happy, we also go for a lap of the park which is a mile but she tends to lose focus and plays with the ducks and what not and now with the current weather, she now loves the treadmill, I only ever let her on it for 2 mins but she does like the crank up the speed
I don't see anything wrong with it, it keeps her interested but without overkill, perhaps your daughter could cycle beside you on your runs. I can't wait till my daughter is 8 so she can follow me on the bike

robinph

Woddle wrote: »

... perhaps your daughter could cycle beside you on your runs. I can't wait till my daughter is 8 so she can follow me on the bike

That's just reminded me as that is what I used to do, ride on the bike and handing water bottles to my dad on his longer runs. That then later changed to my mum doing the same for my older brothers until they became too quick for her to keep up with on the bike.

Racing Flat

WhitestBoyAlive wrote: »

I thought doing high impact sports at young age improved bone density?

True, particularly between the ages of 9 and 11.

RacoonQueen

Agree with patfol and just what I was going to say. Kids run on concrete/tarmac all the time. A short run with daddy won't do her any harm she's hardly going to be going for a 10 mile run with you, she probably runs around on tarmac in school for about 30 minutes every day.