You've signed up your child to run the Kids Run at your next race and you want it to be fun for the whole family.  Here are some ways to prepare so everyone will have a good time.

TRAIN. If your child doesn't run much, make sure you go out a few times in the weeks before the event so they can practice running or walking for up to 5 minutes. Start with a minute of running or walking Then add a minute each you go out. 
 
BRING FOOD TO THE EVENT. Kids Runs usually start late in the morning, after the main event, so have snacks like fresh fruit, bagels, pretzels, and water available while you're waiting. Running on an empty stomach is hard for all of us.
 
CLOTHING. Make sure your child understands they need to wear sneakers to run in, this is for their safety. Other than that, have some fun with clothes -  tutus, sweatbands, costumes, sparkles. Just make sure it's comfortable and is easy to run in. 
 
SCHEDULE. Make sure you know what time the Kids Run starts so you aren't rushing to the start line and you don't miss it. Arrive a few minutes early to warm up and listen to any instructions. 
 
HAVE FUN. Most Kids Runs are not timed or competitive. If your child gets scared or upset during the Kids Run (it happens ALL the time) don't worry - just walk or skip, and cheer on the other runners. Try not to get upset - it'll be better next time.
 
CELEBRATE. Encourage your child to wear their medal or ribbon all day or bring it to school. Find a special place to display it in their room. Take photos and share them. 

​Parents often wonder if they should run along side their child in the Kids Run or wait at the finish line and cheer. I love when parents run with their children at my Run Kids Run events. It always makes me smile to see families enjoying the sport together. I also appreciate those parents who recognize their kids have found their own passion for running and are happy to hang out on the sidelines cheering. Here are some things to consider for your child’s next running event:

Consider the rules. Make sure it’s allowed. Due to space or liability restrictions, some races simply don’t allow non-registered participants on the course. If you really want to run alongside your budding athlete, you might need to register and pay for a race bib too.  Check the website or ask the race director for the rules.

Consider the course. A simple out and back course - that starts and finishes in the same place - is better for a child to run without an adult. The child will run right back to where they started. However, if a course is a point to point - where the start and finish are in different places - the child should understand what to do and where to meet family after they finish.

Consider their age. Older children like to run alone and are often faster than their parents. They understand to wait at the finish line (talk to your child before the race to decide where to meet). Younger children may be slower, need to stop on the course, and may get nervous.

Consider their running experience. Children who don’t have much experience with running can have a hard time pacing themselves and can get tired quickly, which can be scary. If your child is new to running, you may want to run alongside them.

Consider siblings. If you have two or more children who run at different paces, you’ll need to choose one to run with. Usually that's the slowest and youngest child, but make sure you have a plan with the older children so they know if you expect them to run with you or where to meet you at the finish line.

Consider their need to be independent. Many parents (especially those of us who run) are so excited when our children want to run races that we just want to be involved too. But many children want to do it themselves. If they don't need you to run with them, you can wait at the finish line taking photos.

A virtual option for the Kids Run may be one of those fabled silver linings that came out of a brutal year of shutdowns, canceled events, and screen time overload. Allowing parents to take their child's Kids Run packet home supports parents in their efforts to get their kids moving again, while your event reduces overspending and waste. Without the constraints of timing chips, awards, and measured courses, the Kids Run is the perfect opportunity to let parents take race packets “to-go”.
 
Parents are notorious for registering their children at the last minute for Kids Runs – usually in the week prior to the race –  and even the day-of.  It’s not their fault, and it is not yours! Having children means being in a constant state of flux. Kids wake up with sniffles or with a case of the grumps; they get last minute invitations to birthday parties or sports activities; they suddenly decide they hate running after weeks of loving it.
 
Parents get wise to these mood swings and wait until the last minute to register. By doing so, they avoid potentially losing their registration fee, the stress of pleading with their child to get out of bed and come run with mommy, and the disappointment when emotions explode. 

This uncertainty, however, leaves race directors with the guessing game of how many medals and shirts to order and what to do with the inevitable leftovers. And ultimately cursing their Kids Run for losing money and wondering if it’s worth continuing it.
 
2020 sucked but it taught us the importance of switching gears. It also put a spotlight on the concept of Virtual Runs. A Running USA Race Director Magazine article about the takeaways of a year of virtual racing inspired me to think about an exciting option for engaging more children in our events. What if we give parents the flexibility to have their child participate in our in-person Kids Runs or to take their race packet (including medal) home to create a virtual option in their backyard or park? 
 
Kids Runs are inherently more flexible in this regard because they typically are not timed or measured, and don’t have awards categories (there’s no BQ for Kids Runs yet, I don’t think!). Sure, running with a big group of people on event day has advantages, but some children find it overwhelming and may prefer the comfort of running in their neighborhood with family or a group of friends. Here's why it may work for your event and your participants:
 
What’s In it for Parents:

• Parents can sign up with confidence that registration fees won’t be wasted if their child refuses to participate 
• They can share their own event experience with their children – matching shirts and medals – even if their family can not attend.
• They can encourage family and friends to participate in a self-produced backyard kids run branded with your event's race gear!

Full disclosure, I haven’t had a chance to try this option yet since events are only just reopening here in California. But here are some considerations I thought of based on over a decade of working with running events and families:

• Promote it on your website so parents are aware of the option.
• Decide if you want parents to choose this option when they register or if it’s only available when they pick up.
• Have extra packets on race day for purchase at the expo.
• Create a system to track who has picked up their medal and who gets one at the finish line to avoid double-dipping.

• Have a plan for a no-show parents– be clear if they need to pick up at the event, at a local retailer, or if there is a fee for mailing.
• Offer excess packets for sale online throughout the year for families to purchase any time after the main event (be sure to account for postage in the registration fee)

 
Creating opportunities for children to be involved in the running community is an important part of being a race director. Some children naturally gravitate to our events because they love running, being around their peers, or doing the sports their parent loves. But for many children, large scale events like ours are intimidating or inconvenient. Finding creative ways to engage them with your event – with a virtual option - may inspire them to come back next year and is certainly a great way to open the door to the running community.

The benefits of a Kids Run include reaching new audiences, attracting new sponsors and vendors, and taking advantage of new marketing outlets.  Let's go into a little more detail: 

REACH NEW AUDIENCES – beyond your typical runner scanning the race calendar for a goal race, fast 5K or, BQ, there are lots of families who are looking for something fun and active to do on the weekend with the kids.  They may first come across your event through their relationship with another organization but the family activity may be what convinces them to sign up.  Organizations where families connect include:

• Parent/mom-focused fitness or social groups
• Schools or PTAs
• Charities 
• Corporate/workplace teams

ENGAGE NEW SPONSORSHIP & PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES – adding family activities to your event may engage new sponsors who might not otherwise feel connected to a running event, including:

• Family brands
• Local retailers, kids’ activities, performers
• Coaches, fitness studios, and camps
• Pediatric medical providers like dentists, orthodontists, podiatrists.
• Business services such as relators, estate planners, and insurance providers.
• Family-focused influencers who can bring their followers/customers to your event

• Educators such as private schools, tutors, and afterschool programs.

 
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW MARKETING OUTLETS – hosting family activities may open up new marketing opportunities where the target audience is parents. Examples include:

• Free parent-focused print and online calendars
• Social media parent groups
• Community newsletters
• Ads in family magazines
• Banners in a family-friendly venue

 
Finally, while not as tangible as the reasons above, another benefit of adding a Kids Run is the it will help your event grow and can enhance the event as an experience, not just a race.  A Kids Run or Kids Zone will encourage people to stay at your expo longer to visit vendors, buy food, and make a day of your event. It will allow you to welcome multiple generations – including children and older generations like grandparents who want to support, cheer, or spend time with the family. A fun event can establish annual family traditions and feed the pipeline of running events – kids who start with a 1K will eventually age up to the 5K. Remember that kids don’t come alone to events - they come with adults and siblings who will register for the event, spectate, or volunteer!