12 Year Old and Running Question

[martijean1]

Ok, my DD has decided that she loves to run (and I mean LOVES)...She's in softball this spring, but started running with my boyfriend about a month and a half ago...The other night they whipped out 8 miles...Any concerns I should have (joint, etc...)? They're doing proper stretching and cool downs...One concern I DO have is that she said after a long run one night that she felt like she was breathing in ammonia...It went away about an hour after they got home...Wierd??

MJ in MN

 

[bitmover]

you might take some time to jump around on kidsrunning.com. They do have a mileage chart there:

http://www.kidsrunning.com/kidsrunningdistance.html

but as the coach says, it really depends on the kid -- the numbers on their distance chart seem very conservative and perhaps for beginners.

-Beth

 

[janie1234]

Ok, my DD has decided that she loves to run (and I mean LOVES)...She's in softball this spring, but started running with my boyfriend about a month and a half ago...The other night they whipped out 8 miles...Any concerns I should have (joint, etc...)? They're doing proper stretching and cool downs...One concern I DO have is that she said after a long run one night that she felt like she was breathing in ammonia...It went away about an hour after they got home...Wierd??

MJ in MN

Oh my you just may have a future Olympic athlete on your hands. I think that it is awesome. If you have any concerns I would just talk to her pedio Doc but my thoughts are when a child shows great interest in a sport or activity encourage it. They just may very well end up in a job that they love for a living. My kids are still young 6 and 8 but if either one had that much interest then I would be running along side her. For long runs like that I would just make sure that she's eating good.

 

[pixiesis]

About the ammonia thing...after intense cardio workouts sometimes it seems like I can smell a very faint ammonia smell too. It goes away pretty quickly though. Good to know I'm not the only one but I wonder why the heck it happens!

Amy

 

[marnapril]

the ammonia thing is just the body releasing nitrogen. nothing to worry about, it's totally normal. here's a good article about it:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=326

and good for your daughter!! i started running around her age and i'm still running at 38.. if you have any concerns, just talk to her doc. good for her!!

 

[martijean1]

I think she'll end up doing a half marathon in August with Joe...They should have a great time...Always said I'd start running the first time I got chased by a bear...So far, so good! LOL!! I DO bike with them, though...

Have been thinking about that ammonia smell...Wonder if it has something to do with burning through all stored carbs or something? Will have to look that up this weekend...

Nutrition, oh, nutrition! She eats like a teenage boy (though healthier!) and guzzles water like a sailor drinks a beer!! I'm not worried about that end of it!

MJ in MN

 

[marnapril]

Have been thinking about that ammonia smell...Wonder if it has something to do with burning through all stored carbs or something? Will have to look that up this weekend...

it's just the body releasing nitrogen. check out the link i posted above..

 

[martijean1]

Thank-You, thank you!

MJ

 

[JeanneMarie]

My DS starting running cross country in the 6th grade. He was 11 years old. He ran all the way through high school, so that was 7 years of cross country. He loved it too!

He had no problems whatsoever starting so young. He's now almost 22 and still a runner!

 

[GreenEyedLefty]

That's awesome! I'd make sure she has the best running shoes you can afford. That's all I got.

 

[RapidBreath]

could she be

In ketosis? That can produce a weird smell in your mouth/nose area. Its just a little bit of low blood sugar or she could have a sinus infection.

 

[dorothyrd]

My son ran cross country in Junior High. It was a good experience. He switched to soccer in HS and now runs to stay in shape in college.