The TV is awash at the moment with adverts for the government’s ‘Change 4 Life’ campaign, with adverts trying to promote families becoming more active and getting enough exercise to stave off obesity-related illnesses in later life. Watching these adverts, it strikes me that running is a great way for families to exercise together and by doing so, both adults and children could learn from each other to encourage a love of running.
Running comes naturally to children. In fact, having worked as a pool lifeguard I have spent even more time than most adults telling kids to stop running everywhere, but away from slippery environments, we adults could learn a lesson from the energy and joy children get out of running. If you run like you did when you were little, without the pressure of stopwatches, heart-rate monitors and the like, you can re-discover how liberating running can be. Running like a child can mean racing your partner, going at full pelt until you collapse laughing; letting your arms hang free instead of worrying about form; flying down hillsides with the wind in your hair; and inserting random skips and jumps (great for toning legs and bottoms) into your stride just because it feels good! You might get some strange looks but the lift it gives your mood will mean you won’t care.
For parents, having a good running habit sets a great example to your children, demonstrating that being active is a routine way of life. If they see you exercising and think of it as a normal part of daily life they are more likely to develop and sustain their own fitness habits as they get older, leading to better health in the long-term.
One way to get kids started with running is to let them enter a mini fun run with you. For older children fancy dress 5ks such as the Santa Runs held around the country are good fun, or to give really young ones a taste, organised walks such as Barnardo’s Big Toddle are a good introduction to sporting events. Or, if you are planning a more challenging race for yourself, why not look for an event that your child can be part of too instead of staying at home with a sitter. Many big half-marathons and trail runs now have junior races running alongside the main event so you can share the excitement of competing and both take home medals to be proud of.
