Prior to the Carlsbad Marathon there is a Kids Marathon Mile at Legoland. This is a fun event for children under the age of 12. Its main objective is to get more youngsters interested in and involved in running. This is a commendable goal with which I am in full agreement. And it should be noted that such events take place in many other major marathons. They are all done with the same objective in mind.
However, I also believe that we are missing a great opportunity to get youngsters truly interested in running. As has been brought out in many previous blogs, in order to get enjoyment and satisfaction from a sports activity is necessary to develop the ability to execute the skill well. The more effectively the skill is executed, the more the satisfaction and “fun” the youngster can get from the activity.
But when the youngster cannot run most effectively, or does not have the physical abilities to execute the technical aspects of running well, or the cardiovascular and respiratory abilities needed to run a mile or more, he or she will not be successful and not gain the satisfaction that is possible. As a result, they may enjoy the run for the day but this does not mean that they will continue doing it in the future.
We see a similar scene in the elementary, junior and senior high schools. Youngsters are not taught how to run most effectively but are only required to run for fitness. This is definitely not a “fun” activity. How many of them continue this activity as they grow older? No studies have been done on this but I would venture to say very few. In fact, I know of many youngsters who get turned off on running because they are required to do it. They consider running a boring and unproductive activity.
But it does not have to be this way. If youngsters are taught how to run more effectively and if their physical abilities are developed that would enable them to to run more effectively, we would see more youngsters become interested in running and becoming more successful. Even if they do not become track or long distance runners, the running may enable them to be better athletes in whatever sport they select as they grow older.
Instead of having just a fun run at these popular marathons, it would be more effective to have sessions to teach the youngsters how to run more effectively and even have some experts on hand to talk to the entire running community about the need for and value of correct and effective running. This does not mean having someone talk about the popular forms or systems of running such as the Pose method or Chi running which while having some value for some runners, do not contribute to more effective running. They are not based on science or only aspects of it, and when closely scrutinized, show that their information cannot be substantiated.
Teaching correct running is an ignored aspect not only in running community but in the teaching of many other sports skills. I have given many talks to running and sports groups that involve running such as the triathlon, football and baseball, and have seen firsthand how the majority of the participants are quite ignorant in this area. It brings out the need for more education and more understanding of what is involved in running and how it can be effectively taught and mastered.
For more information on running technique and the teaching and mastering of running, see the second edition of Explosive Running. See also Girls Basketball High School on HSHD.