beijing distance running festival run boy run
I've been accompanying Hao Ran Hu in running for almost a year now. During this period, I took Hao Ran to experience several marathons. Hao Ran asked me why he didn't have a race number. I encouraged him by saying, 'You need to keep running. Kids who run well can participate in marathons and get their own race numbers.' Thus, I managed to coax and encourage Hao Ran from a 7.5-minute pace for 3 kilometers to a 5.5-minute pace.
Life needs a sense of ritual, and running marathons needs a sense of ritual. The 2019 Beijing Long-Distance Running Festival arrived as scheduled.This year, I'm not running the half marathon; instead, I'm accompanying my son in the family run.
The day before the Long-Distance Running Festival, we picked up our race packets. Little Hao Ran Hu received his first race number in his life, and all his happiness and excitement were written all over his sunny face.
Although the number of participants in the family run wasn't large, the scene was as lively as a thousand troops. Watching the children run happily always brings an inexplicable sense of emotion. The family run started from the Water Cube and covered a total of two kilometers. The distance was relatively short, and with many children, it was more about playing while running. Hao Ran summarized, 'The race wasn't tiring at all.'
After the race, we rushed to the finish line of the half marathon. Hao Ran carried a bag full of lollipops to cheer for everyone. Hao Ran told me, 'I want to save the strawberry-flavored lollipop for Black Cat Sister.' (Black Cat Sister was also running the Hanma on the same day.)
At the finish line, we witnessed two runners being rescued. I sincerely felt worried for them. Here, I once again urge: run marathons within your limits; finishing safely is more important than anything.
Life is a marathon with an unknown distance. The key is not how fast or how far you run at one time, but how long you can keep running. More importantly, it's about enjoying every day you can run happily.
I love running with my child. It's a process of mutual companionship and growth, and we greatly enjoy this parent-child time.
What is it like to run with a child?
At a pace of around 7.5 minutes: When the child first starts running, the mother often comforts, 'Let's run slowly and steadily. Don't worry, mommy is with you!'
At a pace of around 6.5 minutes: During the period when the child is accumulating running volume, the mother often emphasizes, 'Don't run too fast or too slow. If you run too fast, you won't have enough energy later!'
At a pace of around 5.5 minutes: During the period when the child's pace and endurance are improving, the mother often shouts, 'Slow down, you little rascal! Wait for your old mom!'
One day, when Hao Ran Hu was over seven years old, as he dashed ahead and his mother couldn't catch up no matter how hard she tried, she realized that this wasn't the child's true pace; it was the level of the accompanying mom. She understood that the one lagging behind was herself. This was a painful realization, followed by a sense of powerlessness and a heartfelt joy and pride.
All the sweat will eventually pay off. All the efforts will not be in vain. Keep running, young man; you are more excellent than your mother imagined.
It is said that music can significantly reduce the feeling of fatigue during exercise and improve endurance. Music is like the legal drug that athletes can use during exercise. For us, we are each other's 'music' while running.
Hao Ran: 'Mom, my stomach hurts, my legs hurt, my hair hurts...'
Mom: 'If your stomach hurts, we can't have cake after the run.'
Hao Ran: 'Mom, I'm out of fuel; I can't run anymore.'
Mom: 'I'll add 200 bucks worth of fuel for you.'
Hao Ran: 'Mom, can you catch up with me?'
Mom: 'You're so amazing, I can't catch up with you.'
Hao Ran: 'Mom, can I watch TV after the run?'
Mom: 'After running three kilometers, you can be rewarded with watching cartoons.'
I will answer the questions that parents often ask here, representing my personal views only. Let's encourage each other and make progress together.
Q: Why take the child running?
A: Exercise not only strengthens the body but also the mind, and it cultivates the child's habit of exercising.
Q: How far should a child run? Is it better to run farther and faster?
A: It depends on the child's physical condition, following the principle of gradual progress. Developing the habit of exercising is natural; speed and distance will follow.
Q: What if the child doesn't like to eat vegetables?
A: Make them into shapes that can be held and eaten, start with easy-to-chew vegetables, mix vegetables into foods the child likes, and tell the child the benefits of eating vegetables. These methods are not very effective. The most effective way is: if they don't eat, let them go hungry!
Q: What if the child doesn't like to exercise?
A: Encourage more and preach less. Make exercise fun and diverse, give appropriate mental and material rewards, and tell the child how beneficial it is to develop the habit of exercising from a young age. Actually, you're overthinking it. The most effective way is: 'Let's go play, mom and dad will take you out!'
Q: How do you teach Hao Ran to run?
A: No need to teach; kids just run! Free running is a child's nature. No one needs to teach them which leg to step with first or how to step.
Q: What do you do while he runs?
A: I accompany him wholeheartedly, warm up before running, run together, and stretch after running. I take care of adding or removing clothes and serving food and drinks.
Q: Do you want to train Hao Ran to be an athlete?
A: Developing the habit of exercising from a young age will benefit him for life. His future is not for me to decide!
Every child has their own blooming season. Some flowers will bloom brilliantly from the start, while others require a long wait. Accompany them with care and patiently wait for them to bloom. Maybe your seed will never bloom because it is destined to be a towering tree.
Run, parents, and cultivate the habit of exercising in your children. Let's cheer each other on!
Run, young man, and grow together with mutual companionship. Let's work hard together!
Photos by: Hao Ran Hu's Mom / Codoon Friends