Hello all! I see my old monicker “TriDoc” has been taken as I’ve been away for a bit…grrrrr MP! Anyways, my 8 year-old daughter is beginning to express a real interest in the sport. I’m interested in some resources for “training” for kids at that age. I am interested in all opinions but specifically from other parents in similar situations. No…we’re not psycho pushy parents. This is her idea to do this…she is also in a variety of other arts/sports activities…maybe she likes Mommy’s trophys!
I found the best resources are getting my kids involved in the specific sports…year around swimming, cross country or weekend 1 mile fun runs, and then taking them on bike rides. The rest they learn from you (transitions, running after a bike ride, etc).
Depending on where you live you may be able to find a kids tri program thru a local YMCA or health club during the winter (or ask them to put one together). They usually incorporate swimming, running indoors and riding stationary bikes, along with games and other fun stuff.
The real trick is finding try gear for an 8 yr old. we just kept it simple and let our daughters race in a swimsuit/shorts…and on their mountain bikes. Keeping it low key and fun seems to have kept them happy with it.
My 8 and 9 yr olds did an IronKids Bread Triathlon last weekend here in Atlanta area (I signed them up, they didn’t know about the event). Sara Mclarty was there to MC the race. They did 100 yard swim, 5k bike, .6 run. That was distance for 7-10 year olds, then 11-14 did double those distances. There were about 350 racers. Some were on mtn bikes and wore big baggy bathing suits, while other kids had road bikes and tri clothing. Since my kids did swim team in the neighborhood, they wore jammers, but still rode mtn bikes. They had a blast, although the waiting time for them to get to swim was outrageous (almost three hours wait time for the 7 year olds). Since Tom Z is Nat’l Race Dir I sent him an email after race and he responded same day telling me that this was a new venue for ATL and they need to work the kinks out for next year. Nice guy to respond like that considering the IM race this weekend.
There were two kids associated clubs there on Sunday: one for tri and one cycling. There was also a coach there signing up kids for clinics. There is another kids tri next weekend down here. So you might want to google some resources in your area to check out the local race scene. It might exist already and you can scout out the clubs and coaches while there. We also have a Peachtree Jr Road Race for kids 7-12 which is fun too. And Atlanta Track Club has some kids programs. There are also two very competitive swim teams that train and coach kids year round. My boys haven’t been interested in doing that yet, but it is there if they want to.
I am planning to encourage them to keep up the biking by doing rides with me on a greenway trail on weekends. They will also run a ton with other sports during the school year. I have a treadmill and they will get on when I’m working out every now and then for fun. But they probably won’t swim much after September. That is going to be it for their training.
Realistically, I’m thinking that my kids will do one or two road and tri races a summer until they are 13 or 14, they will do swim team in summer, and keep up running through other sports, or start to do some 5 and 10ks Then when they hit HS they can really go crazy with the school organized sports and if they want to pursue tri at that point then I’ll see about coaching them or letting them join one of the sport specific clubs. Right now I want them to be kids, and try as many new things as possible, rather than guide them to do as their old man does.
I had my kids there in Atlanta this weekend. I have a 7 year old daughter and she was in the second to last wave. It was a very long and hot wait. My 10 yr old daughter had to wait for some time, but not as long. This was my daughters third race of the year. They seem to be enjoying them. My 7 year old has been 2nd twice and third this weekend, so really enjoys the medals. My kids prepare by doing similar things. We ride most weekends for pleasure, but that gets in their time on the bike. They also like to ride with me while I am running. They get their swimming from swim team. You could definetly tell the kids this weekend who were on swim teams. Now that fall is arriving it is time for soccer and tennis. Through normal kids sports they can gain lots of fitness. My family also goes with me to my events, which encourages my girls to want to compete.
I had the privilege of being the Sara Lee Ironkids Series announcer & a staff member for the 2005 & 2006 seasons. You will not find a better program for kids anywhere! Tom Ziebart’s reputation as an RD is 2nd to none, and Neil & Jeanette McDonald, who do the logistics & timing are not only among the best at what they do in the country, but awesome folks as well. From the local RDs they hire, to event staff to race volunteers, they bring aboard people who are smart, friendly, enjoy the program, and want to see the kids succeed and have fun.
Naturally, the program is not 100% “perfect.” A couple posters brought up that fact that kids had to wait a long time to start. Unfortunately, it’s one of those necessary evils. The kids go off in groups starting with the oldest. Depending on the size of the pool, it was my experience that somewhere between 6-12 kids would go in each “wave.” Once ALL the swimmers were out of the water, the next wave is called, staged, and then started. Obviously, when you have 350+ kids as they did in the Atlanta market race over the weekend, it is going to take some time. However, it’s necessary to do it that way to avoid the bike course from being overcrowded and a potential bad situation there. Optimal situation? Maybe not, but you can be assured that the Ironkids staff always considers the safety of the kids a #1 priority.
I can’t speak for the whole country, but I know that in FL, Exclusive Sports Marketing (ESM) runs a kids series in conjunction with their Publix Family Fitness Weekend/Coca-Cola Classic Tri Series. They have two more races left in the season, in Miami Beach in September, and Cypress Gardens in Winterhaven in October. Their website is www.familyfitnessweekend.com.
Fred Sommer’s company, Sommer Sports out of Clermont also incorporates a kids tri at their events. Check www.sommersports.com.
Take a look at the Canadian Kids of Steel (KOS) resources; excellent info about kids 6-15 racing and training age-appropriately to ensure safety and to encourage enthusiasm. http://triathloncanada.com/en/page.ch2?uid=KidsofSteel. The best book about this is Ironman A Healthy Guide to Sports, by Kevin Mackinnon, titled IronKids, How to Make Your Kids Happy, Healthy, and Ready to Go. Check out http://www.mackatak.com/kidsbook.htm.