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Kids Tris
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 2009-08-27 12:09 PM |
 91 |  Subject: Kids TrisAnyone have thoughts on this NYTimes piece on kids' tris? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/health/nutrition/27fitness.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&ref=fashion My 8-year-old just did her first, and had a great time, can't wait to do more. I'm cheap, but still think she'll have a multi-gear bike for next year, rather than her "kid bike." And the event seemed very reasonable for her age group -- 50m swim, 2 mile bike, 500m run. (Actually, those distances are short for her, but it was the 6-8 yo group, so it makes sense). Anyone else have kids who race? |
| 2009-08-27 12:45 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
Champion 7821     Brooklyn, NY | Subject: RE: Kids Tris I’m doing a race next summer (Rev3 in CT) that has a kids tri. My son (who will be 6) is really excited about the prospect of doing it. I have to say, though, unless the website leaves out some of the details, I think the distances they’ve posted are a little excessive for a kid his age. It groups all kids from 5-10 in one AG, and the swim is 100y. I’m sure there are kids who could manage this distance easily, but I think it’s a lot to expect an average 5 or 6-year old to swim the equivalent of four lengths of our local pool. |
| 2009-08-27 1:13 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
Extreme Veteran 443 Manitoba, Canada | Subject: RE: Kids Tris My kids got involved in triathlons through the "Kids of Steel" (KOS) program their PE teacher decided to run at their school - very cool! The distances vary with the age, but starting at 6&7 yo's they can do 50m swim, 1.5km cycle, 500m run, 8 &9 yo's is 100m swim, 5km ride, 1km run and the distances continue to increase as they get older. (Kids can do the shorter distances, but do not qualify for awards.) A couple of the kids went on to become provincial champions in grade 8! Their teachers were excellent and put in A LOT of extra work, doing rides out at the park on saturdays, bike safety and basic repair course, and swimming twice a week at the local pool. The second yr my two boys were involved I did a tri-a-tri - that was about 8 yrs ago. Since then they stopped the KOS and I kept going .. but I thank them every year for introducing me to triathlons |
| 2009-08-27 1:23 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
Master 2073 The Redlands, FL | Subject: RE: Kids Tris I'm not a Parent...I don't have kids...but... We have a TriKids Series here in South Florida: The Hatchling Triathlon Series: www.SFLKidstri.com And they offer 3 different distances according their ages: Triathlon (Swim, Bike, Run) And for the Kids that don't like to swim...they have Duathlons: |
| 2009-08-27 2:49 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
Pro 6582 Melbourne FL Gold member | Subject: RE: Kids Tris My son did a kids tri 2 years ago when he was six, 50 yards, 2 mile, 0.5 mile. USAT defines youth 7-10 can be 50-200m, 2.5-7.5 mi and 0.25-1.9mi. My son has been on a swim team since he was 4 and 50 isn't even a warm up for him. |
| 2009-08-27 7:59 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
Extreme Veteran 612 Chicago-ish | Subject: RE: Kids Tris After watching me race my first Sprint a couple weeks ago my 6yo informed me that she's going to be a triathlete too and asked me to find her a race. Unfortunately all the races in our area have a minimum age of 7 so she's going to have to wait until next summer but she said that gives her more time to "train". When she missed her school bus last week I told her we'd just have to walk instead (she spent half the morning begging me to drive her so she wouldn't have to leave so early so a ride would have rewarded her behavior) she happily skipped off down the sidewalk telling me "Walking is good exercise and will help me train for my triathlon". I love her enthusiasm because it keeps me motivated. If I don't work hard she's going to out-pace me before she's 10. |
| 2009-08-28 6:47 AM in reply to: #2375326 |
Master 2638 | Subject: RE: Kids Tris Our oldest daughter is doing her first tri next month (Ironkids). It's the junior distance, and we are not "training" for it but are just practicing all of the sports so she is in good shape for them all. We are not emphasizing the race part of the race, but the finish. Hopefully we will be able to run with her while she rides or runs because that is the most fun for all. Ironkids has events all over the country, so check out their website (www.ironkids.com?) for more details. |
| 2009-08-28 7:02 AM in reply to: #2374249 |
Master 2491 | Subject: RE: Kids Tris My son, now 10, did a couple of kids tris last summer, and a couple more this summer. Although we go on family bike rides and cajole him into the occasional run, he doesn't 'train' for these events. I do ask him to do a few swims and runs leading up to an event. They're not cheap, and it seams like a fair request to both of us. The distances are reasonable enough for kids to finish the race while having fun. |
| 2009-08-28 7:28 AM in reply to: #2374249 |
Master 1655 NJ | Subject: RE: Kids Tris My daughter did her first at 3. An indoor tot tri as part of Healthy Kids day at the local Y. 2 loops running around the gym, 1 loop on a tricycle then 25 yds. in the pool (w/ a bubble and lifeguard in each lane). She loved it! There are a few other kids tri's in the area but most start their AG's around 6 or 7. (Image157 (Small).JPG) (Image172 (Small).JPG) Attachments ---------------- Image157 (Small).JPG (29KB - 1 downloads) Image172 (Small).JPG (28KB - 1 downloads) |
| 2009-08-28 8:10 AM in reply to: #2374249 |
| 81 | Subject: RE: Kids Tris In the Tampa Bay area we have a ton of kids races. My daughter is in her second year of doing tris and races the 7-8 sometimes 7-10 ag. Her distances are 100 yrd swim, 2-4 mile bike and 1/2 mile run. She started out with her single speed bmx then the multi-speed mountain bike, but now we are onto the 24" road bike-a Redline Conquest. Her age group is quite competitive. She is also on a youth triathlon team, Tampa Bay Tri Sports. Yeah, kids tris are pretty big here in Florida. |
| 2009-08-28 8:41 AM in reply to: #2374249 |
Regular 73 | Subject: RE: Kids Tris My son did his first kid tri back in July (on his 10th birthday). It consisted of a 75 yard swim, 2.5 mile bike, and 0.5 mile run. He had been swimming with me at the Y and running with my wife (they are training for a 5-mile race held in September). He did great and ended up winning the race with a time of 17:59. I suppose it won't be long before he's leaving me in the dust... sigh... |
| 2009-08-28 1:27 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
Expert 803 MD | Subject: RE: Kids Tris My kids have done them, and really enjoyed it. One was still on training wheels when she did one - funny. My thoughts on this, since you ask, is that it's great, but like any other youth sports activity the kids are depending on us adults to approach this activity with the right motives. We are not training our kids to be triathletes, just giving them an opportunity to try something fun in hopes of sparking a lifetime of fitness. I'd bet that 99.999999% of all BT triathletes with kids get this (otherwise they'd be on some OTHER tri forum!  ) I just cringe though when I think about how some of the crazy parents I see on soccer, softball, and football fields might turn youth triathlon into a nightmare for some poor kid. |
| 2009-08-28 4:18 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
Expert 1076 Las Vegas, NV | Subject: RE: Kids Tris Have to wait until Spring for our son's first. Birthday is in November and has already been asking about doing one of the local races, but 6 is the minimum age here regardless of ability. There's been some great stories posted about the kids having a great time in these events. While there are exceptions, most everyone is just there for the fun of it without all the complaining, equipment concerns, etc. Flat tires, pedals falling off, tipping over..no worries, they just keep going! |
| 2009-08-28 4:20 PM in reply to: #2376729 |
Expert 1076 Las Vegas, NV | Subject: RE: Kids Tris We are not training our kids to be triathletes, just giving them an opportunity to try something fun in hopes of sparking a lifetime of fitness. I'd bet that 99.999999% of all BT triathletes with kids get this (otherwise they'd be on some OTHER tri forum! ) I just cringe though when I think about how some of the crazy parents I see on soccer, softball, and football fields might turn youth triathlon into a nightmare for some poor kid. x2. Our son recently started tee ball / coach pitch baseball and there's the whole spectrum of kids on the team. From those that just want to play in the dirt to those who's parents in the stands yelling onto the field thinking they are coaching a pro. Haven't seen any of that when we went to check out a kids splash-and-dash this summer. Edited by toddg 2009-08-28 4:21 PM |
| 2009-08-28 10:26 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
| Veteran 207 Cincinnati, OH | Subject: RE: Kids Tris My youngest two (5 and 3) have been begging me to find races for them. The 3yo wants to do "trike-a-thons." I found a YMCA triathlon for the 5yo in August and she LOVED it: 25yds/1mile/.25mile. She got to wear a swim vest. The tri was beautifully run for the littlest kids: 2 kids/lifeguard per lane in a pool, 1mile on a bike trail, then a flat field run. She was asking for another race 2 minutes after finishing. It took her 18minutes. She got lost on the way from the pool to T1, stopped on the bike course to check if another 5 or 6yo who had crashed was okay. One of her pedals fell off while she was standing pedalling up a hill. She had to get off the bike, go get it, then push her bike up the hill where a volunteer screwed it back on for her. We sort of trained (the week before). I made sure she could do the individual distances in each sport then we spent a day practicing transitions in the cul de sac. Got some curious comments from several neighbors as to why she was running down the driveway wearing goggles and lifevest then taking them off to gear up and ride up the street, then run up the street. Especially after I put her in the shower and had her do it dripping wet. (Nothing new on race day, right ;-) Can't wait until next summer. She really loved the bike part, even with the pedal mishap. I think the tri and the kids fun run she did late spring have spoiled her for soccer. She keeps saying it's boring... Cheryl |
| 2009-08-28 10:29 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
Expert 829 | Subject: RE: Kids Tris My daughter (who is 7 years old) is going to be doing her first triathlon next weekend. The day before I do my first one! She's pretty into it, not in any competitive way, she just thinks it's cool and will be fun to do. It's a 50m swim, 4mi bike, 1mi run. The swim is no problem for her, other than possibly being thrown off by all the other kids around. The good news is it's in a lake and is never so deep that she won't be able to just stand up if needed. The bike is on the long side, but she's gone that far before. She'll be riding a geared 20" wheeled mountain bike. I suspect adrenaline will carry her through the 1 mile run. And if not, there's no shame in walking! I certainly may the next day... I imagine there will be ultra competetive kids and maybe parents, but I'm sure there will be plenty of us just out having a good time. Just like gymnastics, softball and dance, the other things she does. |
| 2009-08-29 9:01 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
| Regular 82 | Subject: RE: Kids Tris My three oldest did their first tri today at a local YMCA. (10,8,7) 50m swim/2 mile run/4 mile bike (yes in that order) They really seemed to enjoy it. My three year old was mad because he couldn't do it. "I do next year" and maybe he will since they had a 6 and under division with the youngest racer being 4 |
| 2009-08-29 9:21 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
Regular 104 Acworth | Subject: RE: Kids Tris My 12 year watched me do my first this year and is doing Iron Kids in a few weeks. We are doing a sprint together in October if she still has the interest. WE started a group tri-training class at our Y a few weeks back that goes twice a week for 45/45 swim/spin and we are scheduled to OWS and do a group ride the next few weeks and she seemingly cant get enough. |
| 2009-08-29 11:07 PM in reply to: #2374249 |
Extreme Veteran 694 | Subject: RE: Kids Tris Both my girls do tri's, I think they could be doing worse things. |
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