the dreaded elementary school mile run

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly it didn't impact their life in the long run.

hahahaha.......long run

[Anonymous]

I could never finish the mile without walking in elementary school. In college, I started running religiously and 25 years later, I’m still going strong and finishing races faster than most people in their 20s. One of my own two kids is like me—not athletic in childhood and an awkward, uncomfortable runner, but I’m not worried about it. I take long, brisk walks with her and try to instill the importance of movement, however she may choose to get it.

[Anonymous]

I always got cramps doing the mile run. Is that an issue for her? I later played soccer and am reasonably fit, but running has never been my thing.

[Anonymous]

My 18 year old and I were just talking about this. Her PE teacher also made a huge deal about it. She also ended up walking it. She said thank god MCPS didn't require it for graduation. She's strong, also a gymnast, but she loathes running. She only does the minimum laps required for practice by her coach. It's definitely a psychological barrier for some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's can't run/walk it? I guess you could start jogging it with her!

She can, but she's never done it in less than 14 minutes.

Is she even trying? 14 min/mile is a leisurely stroll even for old people. A healthy 10 year old should be able to do this in a lot less time even if they walk most of it.

+1

That said, I’m surprised the PE teacher even called you about it….I mean, why even care about this TBH? Would they also call about a kid who can’t make a basket during the basketball unit etc? Some kids just are not athletic and/or don’t have the skill in a certain sport or area. Not unusual really.

I dont know this for sure but would imagine there is a standard kids must meet. Its probably leas than 14 minutes. If they dont do it, they get flagged for failure, same as if they dont have math or reading skills. This is perfectly logical to me. The kid wont get left behind but the family needs to know this is an area of concern. Possibly even more concerning than being behind in math class, honestly, this is a skill kids need. You need to be able to move a full mile at a reasonable pace. I would be grateful the teacher called.

Start making her practice. Find a mile route and walk it with her then work up to jogging until she is under 14 minutes.

LOL what?!

[Anonymous]

this is a weird troll post.
no pe teacher would call about this
they have dozens of kids who can't run a mile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually gymnasts were the strongest most athletic students in middle school. Back when I was in middle school and when asking my kids, they said it's pretty much the same now.

ie they do the most pull ups, push ups, etc.

Is it possible that gymnastics is taking away from her ability to run. Not overtraining but her body just can't handle a mile run the day after doing gymnastics. And maybe give her a break the day before you know she'll have to run?

Is she actually complaining about any pain, such as shin splints or anything?

If there are no physical or conditioning issues, I'd imagine it's possibly just a mental thing where they're just not motivated to do it.

DP but I think your impression is far from OP's case. She has a 10 year old who probably doesn't break a sweat or raise her heart rate at all in her recreational gymnastics class. Which is fine! My DD loves dance but at that age it wasn't going to move the needle for her cardio or stamina

If she does gymnastics 3-5 days per week it's not a recreational class. Kid probably has a 6 pack and defined biceps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this is a weird troll post.
no pe teacher would call about this
they have dozens of kids who can't run a mile.

+1

LOL. My kids always come home with stories about kids vomiting, stopping in the middle and refusing to continue, faking injuries etc. IDK what repercussions there are- a bad grade in PE? no idea. But does it really even matter?

[Anonymous]

Maybe OP lives in Lake Wobegon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What was the gym teacher's concern, exactly? That there was a physical issue?

I can't imagine she's the ONLY child who can't do this. Is this a private school?

Yes, it's private. And I honestly don't know what the concern was. That she couldn't run a mile without stopping to walk, apparently.

[Anonymous]

Why won't she do it? I had asthma as a kid and would walk half- finished in about 12 mins.

[Anonymous]

Mile run is not done in our FCPS elementary school. Is this a standard thing? Never heard anyone talk about it from other schools either

[Anonymous]

I could never run a mile as a kid despite being slim and healthy. I was diagnosed with cough variant asthma as an adult and now can do it with an inhaler. It didn't help that the mile run was always during peak allergy season.

You might check for asthma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mile run is not done in our FCPS elementary school. Is this a standard thing? Never heard anyone talk about it from other schools either

She's not in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why won't she do it? I had asthma as a kid and would walk half- finished in about 12 mins.

My PE teachers always made us start out jogging, which would trigger my (undiagnosed) asthma and I'd get to the point I could barely walk and would have to stop. One year I passed out. Once I was in such bad shape it was nearly impossible to finish.

If they'd just let me walk from the beginning I could have finished in 12 minutes.