Parents Face Backlash After Allowing Their Six-Year-Old Son to Run a Marathon

What were they thinking?

Parents Receive Criticism for Having Their Six-Year-Old Son Complete a Marathon

The young boy took over 8.5 hours to finish, with the help of Pringles, which seems somewhat fitting.

By Alex Carter, May 6, 2022

Most people agree that kids should enjoy plenty of outdoor playtime. But running for over eight hours straight? Especially when they voice a desire to stop? Even the most fit individuals might find that excessive, and numerous experts warn it could pose health risks. Nonetheless, that’s exactly what six-year-old Rainier Johnson did during the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon last weekend. The spirited child ran alongside his parents and five siblings, finishing the grueling 26.2 miles in 8 hours and 35 minutes. Most marathon participants spend months training, gradually increasing their distance, and Rainier was no exception. “Some of the training was hard,” he told a reporter from Good Morning America. “I fell sometimes.” For perspective, middle schoolers who are twice Rainier’s age typically run cross-country races of just two miles.

The family quickly encountered backlash for their unconventional, perhaps unprecedented, choice. In a celebratory Instagram post, Rainier’s father shared troubling insights about the run, including a photo of a smiling child holding a box of potato chips. “He was struggling physically and wanted to take a break every three minutes,” Rainier’s dad wrote, noting that when the expected handout of Pringles at mile 20 didn’t arrive, Rainier became upset. “He was crying, and we were moving slowly, so I told him I’d buy him two sleeves if he kept going. I even had to promise him another sleeve to get him in the family photo at the finish line.”

While some may see bribing a child with snacks as harmless, the rest of what this father describes sounds like questionable parenting. Olympic runner Kara Goucher chimed in on the criticism, tweeting, “I don’t know who needs to hear this, but a six-year-old cannot comprehend what running a marathon will do to them physically. A six-year-old doesn’t understand the concept of embracing misery. A six-year-old who is ‘struggling physically’ doesn’t realize they have the right to stop—and should.”

Marathon organizer Iris Simpson Bush addressed the situation in an open letter, stating that the father was determined to run the race with his young child, having participated in previous years without official recognition. However, she noted that moving forward, they will strictly enforce the age requirement of 18 for runners. Experts have shared similar concerns about allowing a six-year-old to run a marathon, particularly if the child wants to stop. “If a young child were to run a marathon, I’m worried about issues like electrolyte imbalances, nausea, vomiting, and heatstroke, which may not be apparent in a young child,” Dr. Alok Patel told Good Morning America. He also expressed concern that extreme physical activity could pose risks to a six-year-old’s developing growth plates. While it’s wise to avoid judging other parents, many draw the line when a child’s safety is at stake.

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Summary:

A six-year-old boy, Rainier Johnson, completed the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon alongside his family, taking over eight hours to finish. His parents faced criticism for allowing him to run such a long distance, especially after he expressed a desire to stop multiple times. Experts and athletes have raised concerns about the potential health risks associated with young children participating in marathons.

Keyphrase: “six-year-old marathon runner”

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