Should my child run?

This is a question I get frequently. The answer is a definite maybe! My 8 year old son just ran his first 5k, our local Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot in Elmhurst. He ran it faster than my first- 30:32! When I excitedly told him we had hit the 2 mile mark, the look on his face was priceless. He thought we were almost done...but he pressed on to an impressive, strong finish!

Seriously though running is great for physical fitness and mental wellness. While each individual situation is different, for the most part running is just fine for children but there are certain things to take into consideration:

1-Shoes, shoes, shoes...oh and did I say shoes. They need running shoes just like us adults. I am not talking stride rite gym shoes here. You should go to the running specialty store and purchase the same quality shoes as you do for yourself. They are going to set you back about $50 or $60, but will save you more than that in the long run. Oh and don't forget to track them just like you would for yourself. 300-400 miles or 6 months max. Don't worry, they will likely grow out of them before that anyway!

2- Mileage should be really low for anyone under 12. I think a few 1-2.5 mile runs are the most a child should do. When they get up into middle school you can increase days as well as miles and into high school...well those cross country teams run some serious mileage.

3-Start Slow! We want to give their bodies time to get used to the pounding of running. Start them off with a trip around the block, then 2. Ease up to a mile and celebrate with a local kids 1 mile race (lots of bigger races are incorporating them). Then slowly increase until they are ready to take on their first 5k.

4-Run with them --running is a great family sport and can be good bonding as our children get older. It's also a lot safer too!

5-Sign them up for a running club. Many schools and park districts have running clubs. These are specifically designed for children and can ease them into the sport nicely. Plus they will very quickly learn about the community aspect of running.

The most important thing is to remember that if they get injured to bring them in to the doctor right away. Delay in treatment can make healing them all that much more difficult.