Run With Your Child

If you have small children at home, last month I encouraged you to use a stroller and take the kids with you on your run--might as well make good use of your time at home together.  But what if your child is too big for a stroller, but not old enough to leave home alone?  If they've got a bike, your problems are solved.  Training wheels or not, if your child can ride a bike, chances are they can keep up with you while you run.  Better yet, you might have to keep up with them!

Run between your child and traffic
When running with your child on roads with heavy traffic, have them ride as far away from on-coming cars as possible--you take the outside lane.  Even better, have your child ride on the sidewalk (although technically illegal), while you run on the road.  You, as an adult, are much more in-tune to what is happening in the periphery and can serve as an effective first line of defense against trouble.

Watch side streets
Be particularly cautious at intersections.  Drivers are much more concerned with other drivers than they are with pedestrians.  You're just not that visible.  Instruct your child to stop at each intersection, and cross only when the coast is clear.

Make it fun
Let them bring a "friend" along.  Tie a fanny pack to the handle bars and have them slip their favorite toy in the water bottle pouch.  They'll smile the whole way.  Make sure the toy is secure--roads can be pretty rough.  You don't want to have to double back for a missing member of your convoy.  Design your route with a favorite pit stop at the end, like a frozen yogurt shop with self-serve toppings.  There's nothing like a sweet reward to keep those feet pedaling fast.

Taking your child along while you run, not only gets your workout out of the way, it fosters a love for exercise in your child that will hopefully stay with them for a lifetime.  Besides, there's not many things cuter than a kid on a bike with a giant helmet.

LACE UP and call the kids--don't forget the treat at the end!