Characteristics of Child Distance Runners.

In brief: Little is known about the motivating factors, training regimens, and injuries in child distance runners, Forty participants (ages 8 to 15) in a 10-km road race completed a questionnaire indicating previous training and race experience. Twenty percent of the runners ran six to seven days per week, and 40% logged more than 15 miles a week. Eighteen percent had experienced an overuse injury. Enjoyment and parental encouragement were common motivating factors. Medical care providers can help promote aerobic exercise and minimize the risks, but the increasing involvement of children in running may have outstripped the knowledge of physicians who practice sports medicine.