A six year old has recently set the record for youngest person to complete a half-marathon. At the Showdown Half Marathon she finished with a time of 2:46:31 place fifth among 10 in the 14 and under category. She wants to run a full marathon by the time she is 10, but her mother has some doubts.
You can read the full story here http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/10/youngest-marathon-half-six-years-old/
race obsessed
Interesting, but a bit much for that age in my opinion.
Of course, the story doesn't go into detail about how much running/ walking. Even so simply walking that far for a 6 yo is damned far.
I figure if mine (7) wants to go for a 10k she has at least another 1-2 years.
Hip Redux
The 6 year olds I know have the attention span of a gnat, let alone run straight for three hours. More like run a little, pick some flowers, pet a dog, run over to the guy handing out water and ask a billion questions.....
I am all in favor of children being active but there is not enough evidence to support sending them out there to run for hours at a time. While there may not be any science to support my position, I wouldn't encourage a child to run a half marathon before the ages of 12 or 13. Then again, this article seems to indicate that there really isn't any known risk.
Running and Children
Short term goal: 17:59 5K
Mid term goal: 2:54:59 marathon
Long term goal: To say I've been a runner half my life. (I started running at age 45).
does she qualify for nycm based on her half time? special under 7 age group?
most 6 year olds wouldn't want to do this...no matter what i wouldn't encourage kids that young to go that distance...obviously this case is the exception.
marathon pr - 3:16
I'm sure that in war time, or when whole populations are displaced for whatever reasons, many children, and very old people, become capable of what seems now incredible things, like running/walking miles and miles, day after day. We like to limit ourselves when there is nothing to motivate us.
PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013
Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013
18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010
But yes, it's impressive that a 6 year old be motivated enough on her own to accomplish something like that!
That the parents are runners I suppose is good...maybe, or they could be the impetus. Whatever, that's their kid and what other people do with their kids is their business. I would have a hard time allowing that regardless of what the science says.
I hope that her parents don't push her too hard. I used to help line up the first 2 corrals in Falmouth for years. 1 year I saw this tiny girl in the elite corral, and started thinking I hope the mom or dad gets her out of there soon. She turned around, and had a # for that corral so I was intrigued. She turned out to be 9 and ended up beating at least 80% of all the women that day. They interviewed her after she finished, and she mentioned being disappointed in her time. I googled her later, and found that her sister was a talented runner also but had too many injuries in her teens. The same happened to this girl also.
Are we there, yet?
A six year old has recently set the record for youngest person to complete a half-marathon. At the Showdown Half Marathon she finished with a time of 2:46:31 place fifth among 10 in the 14 and under category. She wants to run a full marathon by the time she is 10, but her mother has some doubts. You can read the full story here http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/10/youngest-marathon-half-six-years-old/
Interesting considering the list of single age record holders for the marathon goes all the way down to age 5 for both boys and girls. BTW the age 5 record for the marathon is 4:56:36 by Jennifer Amyx set back in 1975. Assuming even splits she would have reached the HM distance in 2:28:18, some 18:15 faster than this supposed record.
2024 Races:
03/09 - Livingston Oval Ultra 6-Hour, 22.88 miles
05/11 - D3 50K 05/25 - What the Duck 12-Hour
06/17 - 6 Days in the Dome 12-Hour.
INKnBURN just posted on FB about a 12 year old who finished the Javelina Jundred 100-miler. And from his page, it looks like this wasn't his first 100 either.
Whoa.
INKnBURN just posted on FB about a 12 year old who finished the Javelina Jundred 100-miler. And from his page, it looks like this wasn't his first 100 either. Whoa.
Colby and his parents are well known in the ultra world. They're also friends of Katrina.