Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
This was not ok. It's too much for a little body. A lot of adults would have a hard time with that.
With 6-year old tiny legs, he probably had to make at least 3x as many strides to go the same distance as the adults. It's the difference between taking a Lab on a 10 mile hike, and taking a Pomeranian on a 10 mile hike.
What an awful thing to do to a little kid! A 5k is fine but longer distances have age restrictions for a reason. I'm shocked the organizers didn't pull the kid from the race. The entire family should have been pulled at the course limit. More entitlement!
With 6-year old tiny legs, he probably had to make at least 3x as many strides to go the same distance as the adults. It's the difference between taking a Lab on a 10 mile hike, and taking a Pomeranian on a 10 mile hike.
And I would not allow that Lab to make the 10 mile hike until he was two years old and his bones and muscles fully developed. To push a six-year-old child to do a 26-mile trek, even with some walking, for bragging rights and social media "Likes", is cruel.
The race organizers had placed a minimum age requirement of 18 years old. How did that family get away with this?
There are always hundreds, if not thousands, of people milling around at a race event, so organizers can't always keep track of where people are or should be.
This specific marathon does have running events designed specifically for kids: https://flyingpigmarathon.com/events/piglet/ A 6 year old can run 100 yards, or move up to the next level, which is running a mile.
It took the kid 8 and a half hours. Did they stop and let him eat? I’m sure he was given water, but should a 6 year old go for 8.5 hours without a meal? And being physically active for that entire time?
6 year olds have a lot of energy, sure, but this is over the top. Cruel and inhumane. Bribing him with Pringles, smh.
to be honest, this is less of child abuse than allowing your kid be obese and watch TV all dying while stuffing their faces with chips and sodas.
A marathon is no big deal, I'm 55 and do them a few times a year. It's more psychological than anything else.
My brother is a retired track coach. Marathons are extremely hard on adults. For a 6 year old, he says it's abuse, as a child's body is in no way, shape, or form ready to run that far, even with walking.
Usually on marathons, there are regular stands where people give out water.
I wouldn't want to eat anything during a marathon, except maybe some energybars. Going 8.5 hours without a meal is a nothingburger, it's probably healthier to go 2 days without food on occasion and definitely healthier for the kid than stuffing his face with food and playing video games.
Quit looking at the world of a 6 year old through your eyes. Kids need to eat regularly and drink enough water. Making a kid fast for 2 days would be abuse.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
