Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's probably trying to run too fast. Slow down, and go for disantce not speed.

+1

Kids tend to just sprint as fast as they can. Have him slow down.

This. When my daughter runs she sprints, then walks, sprints, then walks ... It's a great HIIT workout!

I agree that he's probably running too fast. If you live near a marked trail or a park with a loop, you could take him there and just have him practice with run/walk intervals until he can eventually run the whole thing.

Echoing the suggestion to check for signs of asthma. Is he coughing during or after running? If you listen closely (ear to your child’s back), can you hear wheezing? My 14 year old was just diagnosed with exercised induced asthma, and so far it only flares up when he runs (and specifically when he runs fast).

Check for exercise-induced asthma and/or cold weather induced asthma. My brother who had no other signs of asthma has it for cardio activities.
Otherwise the couch to 5k programs are great.

There is a Zombie version of Couch to 5k that he may like. People actually really ike it on my Reddit group. A teenage boy would probably enjoy it too.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zombies-run-5k-training/id566596422

I had the same issue with chest hurting and not being able to catch my breath as a child whenever I had to run in gym class. I found out as an adult that I had exercise -induced asthma.

probably going out too hard. If it doesn't get better look into exercise induced asthma

Yes to walk/run. Especially one with a specific ‘walk’ limit. Walk too long, and it gets harder.

Also, I’ve run several marathons and, unfortunately, the first mile was always hard. Your body just has to get warmed up and your lungs need to step up until everything is in sync.

Anonymous wrote:He's probably trying to run too fast. Slow down, and go for disantce not speed.

My first thought was he's going much too fast. Instead of going into a full sprint, which many kids do, go at 50% or even 60%.

I ran a 5K several years ago and kids from an ES or MS were participating. I kept "leap frogging" with one kid -- he'd sprint for 100 meter, pass me, and then walk for a few minutes and I'd pass him. (Then repeat this.) At one point, as I was passing him, I said "Run with me." He got the "non sprint" pace figured out, and then picked it up to something more suitable for him (left me behind in the last half mile).

His mom saw this happen and thanked me afterwards.