Running with Tom Kaufman
Where will the new runners come from?
We have heard it all before. America is the fattest country on earth. The rate of childhood obesity has gone through the roof. Some theorize that children born today will be the first generation in American history to have a shorter life expectancy than that of the previous generation.
And anyone who follows running in the United States has also heard about the woeful performances of today's distance runners compared to their predecessors in the
'70s and '80s. Today's U.S. elite are often just trying to get to the battle. Despite some recent successes, many of today's top American runners have a difficult time just qualifying for world championships and Olympic competitions.
All this raises several questions: Where will the next generation of runners come from? Will American distance runners ever be consistently competitive on the world stage? Does it really matter if we do not win medals? What can we do to get children to
turn off the Xbox, get off the couch and go out and play?
While I do believe there is a relationship among the above questions, the scope of American distance running is not the sole province of this magazine. However, the fitness levels of today's kids and their interest in running (or insert virtually any other activity) should be a focus and concern for all of us who love to run, bike, ski, paddle, climb, you name it. Where will tomorrow's runners come from? What can we do to help
cultivate a passion for being active?
It is easy for us to dismiss concerns about youth health and activity as irrelevant. Why should we care if kids today don't want to be involved in an active lifestyle? We go to our regular events, run 10Ks, ski the Birkie and complete triathlons. So what if the average age of the participants keeps getting older? It doesn't affect us or our favorite event. Or does it?
The folks in the Birkie office have taken notice. They have undertaken
efforts to encourage and enhance youth skiing. If the average age of the Birkie skier continues to increase, eventually there won't be many Birkie skiers left. If organized events die off, the motivation for many adults to be active will fade as well. As more and more adults become sedentary, the cycle just perpetuates itself with our children.
So I ask again, where will tomorrow's runners come from?
I have a unique and wonderful opportunity nearly every day. I get to work with
kids of all interests. Some are athletes and some have less than no interest in anything that even remotely requires physical exertion. My daily challenge is to find something to pique their interest, to motivate them to try something new and physically challenging, to cultivate even a kernel of enthusiasm for regular physical activity. Believe me, it is a daunting prospect.
I know I won't succeed with everyone. I also know that my success may not come until years have gone by. But if
I can at least start the germination process, maybe some day down the road those students who took a pass on physical activity will remember trying an activity that "wasn't so bad" and try running (skiing, cycling, whatever) again.
It has become commonplace to lay the blame for the pitiful state of fitness among today's youth on computers, televisions and all manner of electronic entertainment. While this is certainly a contributing factor, we need to recognize that these
forms of entertainment are not going away.
The more pertinent question is, what can be done to foster tomorrow's runners? The first step is to look at ourselves. What do we get out of running that makes it something worth our time? What motivated us to begin to run in the first place? What is it that gets us out the door on a regular basis?
Obviously there is not one answer to each of these questions. Every one of us has a unique perspective on running. But I believe a common
thread is that running provides each of us with positive reinforcement.
It is fun. OK, maybe not every mile of every run is fun, but the overall experience is pleasurable. If it wasn't, we wouldn't do it for very long. Young runners are exactly the same way. I can assure you that if there is not something positive that young runners get out of running (and get that positive "something" immediately), they will not continue to run.
We need to recognize that children
are not little adults when it comes to athletics. An adult might be willing to put up with the discomfort of an intense training session because they know that eventually they will see something positive come of it. The young runner needs something positive first, to motivate them to do the work. Once the positive has been experienced, youngsters will pursue their running with the same passion so many of us adults do.
There are many things we can do to foster a love of running in our
children. Make running a social event. If you want to run with your own children, initially don't make it about the running. Use your running time as a recreational family opportunity. Run with your child at their speed for as long as they want to go. Don't run two steps ahead encouraging them to keep up.
End your run with a game or stop at the lake to throw rocks for a while. If your child doesn't think you're too weird for wanting to run with them, have them invite a friend (and
don't turn it into a race right away).
Organized races can be great fun for kids. Organized events may be a motivating tool just as they are for adults. The difficulty is finding races that are actually young-runner friendly. Talk to local race directors and ask them if they would be willing to add a 1-mile run to their 10K. Better yet, volunteer to organize it.
A young-runner friendly event should be long enough to challenge but not exhaust its participants. There should be
many age group awards (five deep in 2-year age groups is great and ribbons are cheap and important to those who win them). There should be refreshments, even if they are only orange and banana slices.
Most importantly, it should feel like a real event. Kids are astute, and they know when they are being talked down to. There is no reason a short race must be limited to just kids. Whether adults run or not, make the event feel like it counts for something with an official start, finish
and results.
When my boys were young (and even when older), a family favorite was the Independence Day 10K and 1 Mile Run in Milton, Wisconsin. It offered everything a family could want in a positive running experience for youngsters. Movin' Shoes in Madison put on a series of youth races in area parks this past summer. They were well-attended and everyone left smiling.
I love high school cross country. It is an excellent way for young runners to experience so many of the
positive things our sport has to offer. For children new to high school, it helps them to integrate into a positive social scene. Practice usually starts before the school year begins in the fall. By the time school rolls around, the new runners have made friends, established a bit of routine, gotten to know the coach, and learned their way around a new school building.
Cross country helps provide the positive feedback young runners need to maintain their interest in the sport. As
athletes continue, they learn not only how to work hard, but why. They see positive results in their running as well as in their friends. They also get the opportunity to become leaders on their team. The older athletes learn to mentor the younger ones and a positive cycle perpetuates itself.
Each of us has the ability and perhaps the responsibility to nurture and encourage young people to be active and healthy. I am certain that everyone knows a child or young adult who is just
waiting for the right reason to get involved. Help them find something they like and do what you can to get them started. Don't push, for you may push them away. Be helpful, be positive, be fun.
Good running to you.
Tom Kaufman of Madison, Wisconsin, has run more than 40 marathons in his more than 38 years of running. He teaches high school phys ed and coaches high school track and cross-country as well as community and masters athletes. He has a masters degree in physical
education with a specialization in exercise physiology.
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