S3E4: The race for children With Natacha Gagné

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S3E4: The race for children With Natacha Gagné
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For several years now, we have been working with Natacha Gagne in different projects. One of the niches in which she specializes is running for children. With her training as a kinesiologist and physical education teacher, she is in a great position to talk about running and physical activity for children.

Daniel: Is it good to run the kids?

Natacha: It sure is good! In fact, physical activity is good for kids, and they should do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity a day. To achieve this, the word to remember for children is "pleasure".

If a child enjoys running or playing soccer and has no pain, there is no contraindication, running is good for him.

In addition, contrary to what we may have thought, running does not wear out the joints, it allows them to become stronger! Moreover, it also helps to increase bone density in children.

Daniel: Increasing bone density is good because it allows you to build up a “reserve” of bone, is it true?

Natacha: Exactly. It can help prevent osteoporosis in adulthood. A bone inside looks like a sponge and doing physical activity increases the density of the sponge. So the greater the child's reserve, the less likely he is to suffer from osteoporosis later because he has a greater reserve.

Daniel: Is it better to offer children other sports than running so that they develop other motor skills?

Natacha: I am convinced that it is preferable to promote sporting diversity. Running is a motor skill, but there are plenty of others like throwing, hitting with a stick, swimming, jumping, etc.

We want children to do several sports. Moreover at Great Kids' Running Club, we only do 2 sessions of 8 weeks per year, precisely to prevent children from doing the same sport all year round.

Daniel: If my child shows an interest in running, do I have to buy him some equipment?

Natacha: As a parent, I wouldn't buy equipment right away. For children, we want to choose the most minimalist shoes possible, that's for sure. On the other hand, children run every day and they don't always have running shoes to do that.

Before investing in shoes, one should explore the activity with materials that the child already has. In our classes, we sometimes have children who arrive in rain boots and they have no problem.

Daniel: How do we motivate our child to run?

Natacha: Running, for most children, is boring. There are children who are very intellectual and who know that it is good for their health, and just that will motivate them. You can also get him to run through play, by doing intervals or by inserting an object such as a ball or a hockey stick.

It is also a tool for working on perseverance. The child is thus taught to progress in his training. Often in class I tell kids that when they start to get short of breath it's time to kick in and keep going for 30 or 60 seconds.

At the same time, developing this perseverance is also beneficial for everyday life and we try to draw parallels precisely.

Daniel: How do you train a child to run?

Natacha: There are no limits set by science, you just have to listen. What I often recommend is to start with interval sessions, in which children are encouraged to develop their perception of effort. We will obviously gradually increase the amount of running training to avoid injuries.

In addition, we will generally focus on developing speed. On the one hand, this is what children prefer, but on the other hand, it is better for their development. Indeed, it is more difficult to work on speed in adulthood.

For most children, training endurance will come later.

Children all have personalities and preferences in terms of physical activity. That's why at the running club, we created 4 characters:

  • Enduro: who likes to run for a long time;
  • Rapido: which does not run for a long time, but quickly;
  • Happyflow: who likes to run for fun;
  • Dynamo: who doesn't really race, but races in other sports.

These are the concepts that are explained to children in lessons or conferences.

I always have the objective that the child has fun in the activity. It will give the child good memories that will allow him to stay active throughout his life.

Daniel: The important thing is to create a positive memory of running?

Natacha: Exactly

Daniel: What is the best advice for starting the race for a child?

Natacha: There are already ready-made programs, like the one from The Runner's Clinic. This is good for a child who is a little more Cartesian. Another way is to go for a walk and insert running periods. So we adapt the program according to the child.

Afterwards, you have to have in mind an idea of ​​progress. It's a sport that you can do anywhere, all the time, but you have to do it often.

You would like the child to run 3 to 6 times a week, which includes unstructured running periods and other structured sports that involve running.

Daniel: Thanks for your advice! If we want to follow you, how do we do it?

Natacha: I have a few copies of my book about the race for kids. We also have a training that I will offer via La Clinique du Coureur to become a running trainer and the Great Running Club will resume in spring 2022.

3 thoughts on “S3E4: The race for children With Natacha Gagné”

  1. Hello, we have a teenager who is really not athletic and who has to run 5 km for school. When she runs, she says she has pain in her feet or legs. Considering that she has a dispraxia and a TAC, would you recommend me a specialist in particular? Thank you

    Reply

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