What age for a 5K?

[Anonymous]

Just wondering at what age your kid was able to run a 5K with you (not necessarily especially fast).

[Anonymous]

Girls on the Run starts in 3rd grade, so I'd say 7 or 8

[Anonymous]

My 4 year old has walked a 5K before. Really depends on your kid how fsat you want to do it.

[Anonymous]

My DD did her first at age 5-1/2 but had been active and out running with us. Just like an adult don’t just hop into a 5K without having built up strength and stamina to prevent injury.

[Anonymous]

3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

My son ran/walked a 5k when he was 8.

[Anonymous]

One kid was 5, one was 8.

[Anonymous]

I'm a runner and at every 5k I see a few kids as young as 4 years old. Some are actually very fast! Some really should not be out there. It's not fair to make such a young kid who isn't used to that type of endurance effort go out like that.

If your kid is on the slower slide, please make sure you teach him/her some basic race etiquette for the safety of everyone on the course.

--Unless they stand a very good chance of actually winning the race, they shouldn't be lined up at the very front at the start of the race.

-If they need to slow down and walk, they should raise their arm in the air (just like at school when you want to ask the teacher a question) before slowing down to a walk.

-Runners to the left, walkers to the right.

[Anonymous]

We ran a 5K last week that was stroller friendly. We had our 4 year old who ran what she could, then hopped in the stroller when she was tired. We started at the very back of the pack to get out of everyone's way. I would say the youngest kid I saw to run/walk the whole thing was probably closer to 8. But there was a lot of whining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We ran a 5K last week that was stroller friendly. We had our 4 year old who ran what she could, then hopped in the stroller when she was tired. We started at the very back of the pack to get out of everyone's way. I would say the youngest kid I saw to run/walk the whole thing was probably closer to 8. But there was a lot of whining.[/quote
I would imagine. Not sure why people feel the need to do this, a 5k isn't really a "family" activity.

I mean, I KNOW why, but.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We ran a 5K last week that was stroller friendly. We had our 4 year old who ran what she could, then hopped in the stroller when she was tired. We started at the very back of the pack to get out of everyone's way. I would say the youngest kid I saw to run/walk the whole thing was probably closer to 8. But there was a lot of whining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We ran a 5K last week that was stroller friendly. We had our 4 year old who ran what she could, then hopped in the stroller when she was tired. We started at the very back of the pack to get out of everyone's way. I would say the youngest kid I saw to run/walk the whole thing was probably closer to 8. But there was a lot of whining.

I would imagine. Not sure why people feel the need to do this, a 5k isn't really a "family" activity.

I mean, I KNOW why, but.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks everyone. My kid isn't even 3, I was just wondering when he might be old enough to enjoy this. And some 5Ks are definitely family-friendly.

[Anonymous]

I have friends who are into triathlons and marathons who started running 5Ks with their kids at 5. I have a bunch of friends whose 6 and 7 year olds are doing kids triathlons. I don't see it as any different then families who love playing soccer or baseball or basketball signing their younger kids up for the sport. It is not going to be played at the pace or level that it will in the future but it can still be fun for the child. Sign them up and see how they respond. If they enjoy it, then go for it. If they don't, try again when they are a bit older.

[Anonymous]

At that age, whether they make it through and enjoy it is also going to depend hugely on the course conditions/weather that day.