Consolidation run turns into week 1 run 1. Is it ok for a 9 year old to do c25k? Advice please!!

[Rainbow2019]

I’ve just graduated c25k. I was about to head out for my 1st consolidation run and my son wanted to join me. Which is great because hopefully he’ll stick with it and we can be running buddies and have some healthy quality time together. He said to me when we set off “mummy I want to do the race you did” (meaning parkrun. Obviously we’re a bit of a way off doing that. He thinks he’s going to run 5k right now with zero practice. I think not! I know we could walk it but he wants to RUN and there’d be no stopping him and lots of tears! Something to work towards though. We can’t do the junior run either- he’s with his dads on Sundays when that’s on)

I skipped my consolidation run and started back at week 1 run 1 with him. He’s not inactive but he’s not a runner. This seemed like the most sensible way to start / benchmark, given that I’ve finished c25k but I’m inexperienced too.

Is it safe to use the c25k app with him to help him gain a bit of confidence and stamina or is there any other way that’s more suited to kids? I don’t want to zap the fun out of running by making him stick to a plan but I know how much the structure of this helped me.

He does sports clubs a few times a week after school while I’m at work so he’s got some level of fitness. He did struggle a little bit with this run though. He wouldn’t listen when I said he needed to pace himself it’s not a race - just went flat out 🤦‍♀️ . I just don’t want him doing too much. He’s decided he wants to try running but he’s not a runner. Obviously a week of runs doesn’t have to be done in 1 calendar week we can spread them out and take our time. Just don’t want to set him up to fail or damage his growing body in any way. And I want to still fit in my consolidation runs! I worked too hard to let it slide now.

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on this? Has anyone done c25k with their kids? How did it go? Tonight I was proud of him for trying and we did have fun even though part way through the warm up walk, the heavens well and truly opened and we looked like drowned rats. I did say we could try again another day but he didn’t want to so we cracked on! I was also inwardly frustrated knowing I’d taken a bit of a backward step myself to support him. Is that bad? He could have joined me the 1st time round!! But given that 9 weeks ago I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with him I’ll let it ride!

Wish us luck!

[BrokeyNotSoBusted Graduate]

I'd think c25k would be fine for most kids and what a great activity to do together. There is a young lad (I'd guess between 8 and 10) that runs around our local duck pond with his mum and does between 2 and 3 laps at a consistent pace (it's 1k per lap).. If anything I'd say he is holding back for his mum. Brilliant to watch. My eldest is 14 and doesn't do the pacing thing at all, just bolts off then waits in a heap until I catch up but think that's part of the fun factor for him atm (cool to leave dad sitting in his dust) and he'll gradually learn to pace if he decides that running is for him. Early weeks won't be an issue but longer runs I'd check he's wearing shoes better suited to run.

He'll adapt quickly especially if he enjoys it. If you're looking for him to catch up as such without you losing out on your runs, you could let him do some of the runs on your rest days while you walk and let him run back and forth to you. Then have a day where you both run together and once the gap closes can move his days to yours or vice versa.

Best of luck and enjoy it. Wonderful to share an interest that has such health benefits as well.

[misswobble Graduate in reply to BrokeyNotSoBusted]

Kids do Parkrun from about 9 years 🤷‍♀️ My great nephew did a race aged 7 as a non-runner. They race at school sports day so I’d think you’d be fine doing C25k together. Sounds like fun 😀👍. My gr nephew loves to run with me, or he cheats and gets on his bike 😁.

Just see how it goes. Enjoy 🙂👍

[Xone]

I ran w4r2 with my 8 year old at the weekend but he is very fit and has done some kids runs previously so not new to running - he skipped and twirled along while i did a slow jog! But I’m hoping he’ll join me for a few more runs along my c25k journey. Good luck with running with your son - hope you find something which works for you both, its a really nice thing to share I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s running well with you. I need to improve my fitness a bit before I can run with my son again! 😆