5k Fun run suitable for an 8 yo?

Sjhrunner

I would appreciate your advice on a suitable event for my 8 yo son.
We have started training to run 5 k together and I would like to aim for a particular event to do together.

Do many of them have minimum ages?
He likes cycling ( and swimming) unfortunately many of the cycling events have a minimum age of 12.

I would like it to be a fun run so he doesn't feel we are coming in "last".
He is not particularly sporty or athletic and it is important this event is fun.

Itziger

Sjhrunner wrote: »

I would appreciate your advice on a suitable event for my 8 yo son.
We have started training to run 5 k together and I would like to aim for a particular event to do together.

Do many of them have minimum ages?
He likes cycling ( and swimming) unfortunately many of the cycling events have a minimum age of 12.

I would like it to be a fun run so he doesn't feel we are coming in "last".
He is not particularly sporty or athletic and it is important this event is fun.

I'm no expert in youth athletics but it seems quite a distance for an 8 yr old. If you've done the training, the kid should be fine but my first question would be, does he enjoy the running?? If he doesn't, forget about it now.

paulb79

what about the junior great ireland run think its 2.5k but its a start

lifianmis

Some races have shorter runs for children before the main race starts.Maybe that would be a better place for him to start and do a few of those first.

lifianmis

paulb79 wrote: »

what about the junior great ireland run think its 2.5k but its a start

Thats exactly the kind of run I was thinking of!

Timmaay

https://www.facebook.com/events/213866822041420/ might be abit soon for ya, but the likes of these are low key, stress free races!

RayCun

5k is a long distance for an 8 year old. My son is 8 too and the furthest they have him running in the club, track or cross-country, is 800m. There are kids races before the Raheny 5 this weekend, I think the younger age group is an 800m race, though you wouldn't be able to run it together.
If you really want to do a 5k, most races have a large mix of standards, and if you can finish under 35 minutes (or 45 in some) you won't be last.

mrak

It's too far, you might put them off sport forever.

Sjhrunner

We are doing the couch to 5k together and he is VERY motivated.
The C25K is only 3 evenings a week and he wants to do it every evening.

C25K progresses pretty slowly.
You'll all be horrifed that my 6 yo is doing it with us.
I'm expecting her to have to drop out but she's surprising me so far.

It is only 3 miles. He could easily cycle 20 miles when he was 7, so his is pretty fit. He is not competitive at all and drops out if he feels a sense of "losing".

Short and fast is not in the genes, so I think a longer distance is definitely better.

I lived abroad for a while and they had VERY high expectations of kids physical ability. In my then 5 year olds junior infants class were expected to cycle 15 km to the local park for a funathon. They had to snow shoe for 5 hours in the mountains. (Excluding a 30 minute break for lunch)

My kids are pretty fit compared to the average irish kid.
But their french ski instructor (army guy) told me the 5 yo year old was "weak and lacked training" :eek::eek:.....it's a different world!!!

We irish need to raise our game.

Sjhrunner

Timmaay wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/events/213866822041420/ might be abit soon for ya, but the likes of these are low key, stress free races!

This looks perfect if it was a few weeks later and a few hours earlier!

meathcountysec

Sjhrunner wrote: »

This looks perfect if it was a few weeks later and a few hours earlier!

Bohermeen AC (just outside Navan, off the M3) are holding a 5K alongside their Half Marathon on 4th March, 12 noon kickoff.

Should be fairly low key as all the big guns will be doing the half.

Failing that there is a 4 mile (7Kmish) race in Dunboyne on 25th March - a participation event with all shapes and standards taking part.

BobMac104

I dont see why its too far really. there are kids all around the word running those distances every day to school, nearest village etc. But i dont have kids so i am approaching this from a ....." sure the kenyans do it all the time" ....point of view.

If he doesnt race it then i think he'd be more than fine to do it.

eoin ryan

2km run in Clontarf this year. Clontarf Junior

joethatoom

Its a bit long for a child no?

robinph

Can't see any problem with this myself once the kid is not pressured to over do it. If they are not enjoying it then they will stop.

The brothers kid has done a few 5k races in the US at about the same age. Just getting annoyed that there were no prizes for winning their age category whilst dad gets prizes for coming 3rd old bloke or something in the same race. These were ones organised with the local schools as well so obviously no issues with getting kids to be active there.

dna_leri

meathcountysec wrote: »

Bohermeen AC (just outside Navan, off the M3) are holding a 5K alongside their Half Marathon on 4th March, 12 noon kickoff.

Should be fairly low key as all the big guns will be doing the half.

Failing that there is a 4 mile (7Kmish) race in Dunboyne on 25th March - a participation event with all shapes and standards taking part.

I understood from local club that AAI insurance did not cover U-12's taking part in 5K road races, is this a myth?

robinph

The insurance thing is probably right for road races, but for an off road one there shouldn't be the same issue. Although the parkruns in the UK allow anyone to register and take part, they do say before the start of every race event that anyone under 12(?) has to be accompanied all the way round. So kids have to find themselves a parent that is quick enough to keep up with them.

meathcountysec

dna_leri wrote: »

I understood from local club that AAI insurance did not cover U-12's taking part in 5K road races, is this a myth?

The only restriction age wise that I am aware of is that under 18s cannot race distances of 10k or greater. I have seen plenty of young kids running (and beating me :rolleyes:) in 5K road races.

ger664

Run one of the darkness into light races in early May. Once you accompany them there is no issue and its a great novelty for him to be up at dawn.

I dont see the distance been an issue provide its run at a conversational pace for him. Anyway he would probably cover more in an U8 GAA/Soceer Game/Training.

Sjhrunner

robinph wrote: »

So kids have to find themselves a parent that is quick enough to keep up with them.

I hope I'm ok for another year!
The 6 yo has dropped out due to... wanting to watch telly.
The 8 yo is still keen+++

Thanks for the recommendations...the dark to dawn sounds fab.

robinph wrote: »

whilst dad gets prizes for coming 3rd old bloke or something in the same race. .

:D
My friends kids get great pleasure in showing everyone the trophy mummy won for coming first and last. Last in the (bike) race, she had the broom wagon following her the whole way, but first (and only) woman over 40!!

franciebellew

What kind of fun will we had during the run? As long as its harmless fun which dosent involve alcohol or drugs I don't see a problem

wextipp

meathcountysec wrote: »

The only restriction age wise that I am aware of is that under 18s cannot race distances of 10k or greater. I have seen plenty of young kids running (and beating me :rolleyes:) in 5K road races.

The AAI permit reccommends ages.Athletes must be 18 years of age to compete in events of 10,000m and over. The recommended age groups for juveniles are: Up to U11 – 1 mile: 12 – 13 2k: 14-15 3k: 16 – 18 5k.
http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/permit-application-forms.pdf