Kids and Marathons

42k is a long way to run. A runner will take approximately 52,000 times over that distance. All this pounding can make a runner's feet sore. It also has the potential to hurt the ankles, legs, knees, hips, and so forth. At about 30k a runner whose body has not yet learned to burn fat will often hit the wall. They muster every last bit of whatever it is inside them to continue barely doing the survival shuffle. Then there is the hobbling around for several days after the race. Why would anyone want to put themselves through this?
The health benefits of walking and running have been well documented but what about if you are a child? What distances are age appropriate? Too many of our children are getting fatter, rather than fitter. Jordan Metzl, M.D., medical director of the Sports Medicine Institute for Young Athletes in New York City, reports that in the last 25 years, obesity in children has more than doubled. With more TV, more car-pooling to school, fewer athletic opportunities at school and less outdoor play Dr. Metzl states ?We're becoming a nation of couch potatoes."
Running is an essential part of play. Games like tag, Mother May I, Red Rover Red Rover, and Hide and Seek were based on the stop and go principles of interval training. When children play unencumbered by rules they tend to run and rest, run and rest then repeat as long as permitted. When children play by choice it is peppered with varying speeds, distances and activities. So is it ok to allow children to run distance races that require hours and hours over weeks and weeks of structured training?
There are numerous opinions stating reasons why not from stunted growth, to injuries and emotional stress but there are just as many kids that have successfully trained for and completed the 42k distance. In 1970 Wesley Paul ran his first marathon at the age of seven then seven years later at the age of 14 ran a marathon in 2:38. In 1968 at the age of five Mary Etta Boitano attempted her first marathon then tried again at the age of 10 finishing in 3:01. Phil Carlitz and Andrew Hudis the race directors of the Rustic Pathways Tribe-to Tribe Marathon held in Thailand are both 16 and have run six marathons between them. Locally 14 year old Elaura Lilienthal trained for and ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 6:13:06 with her parents Cyndi and Peter, becoming the youngest female finisher in Marine Corps history.
Wondering about your own children? Running is best attempted as a fun sport at shorter distances, building over years toward a longer goal. Allow your child to self regulate their speed and distance, taking walk breaks as often as desired. Watch for bouts of fatigue, injury or disinterest. Ultimately the positive aspects of running outweigh any negative risks so parents should do everything possible to inspire their children to take up running and other forms of exercise.