Family Fitness

As we've continued to settle in over the past four months and adjust to life in the country, we've also managed to get plugged into various familiar outlets we were accustomed to in Knoxville.  We are thankfully around family for the first time in years, but we've also been eager to get to know other like-minded local families. One specific way we've accomplished this is through our Kingsport Area Homeschool Christian Education Association (KACHEA) running club where as families we run and train together for various races and track and field events throughout the year.  Knoxville also had various private and public clubs, but fortunately now we have at least three children who can actually compete!  The homeschool club recently took advantage of a series of three track meets sponsored by the State of Franklin Running Club and Fleet Feet Shoe store.  The children competed in all, bringing home ribbons while meeting new friends.  Many adults competed as well, making for an exciting atmosphere for all ages. 

As an athlete myself and trainer prior to having children, it was often new territory trying to encourage moms on how to get back into shape.  I couldn't have really known their lives or challenges of trying to fit in workouts with little ones in tow.  So many things to consider and work around...naps, feed times, equipment for exercising with baby, sleeplessness, etc.  Obstacles and time are always pressing issues for moms.  However, these 'obstacles' would become my own personal conquest, living with what my clients had struggled to achieve.  Not quite sure how it would all come about, but I was determined that my children would always exercise with us.

When making this commitment, it is important to understand that exercising with children does take some creativity and varying expense.  Folks who love to walk using most any stroller will accomplish the task, BUT if you jog or run then a performance stroller with larger tires and shock absorption capabilities are the best bet (also incurring the most cost as well).  There's a wide variety of strollers on the market today but a good site to help personalize the hunt to match any fitness goal is:  http://www.joggingstroller.com/ .  Trailers and bike seats can also help accommodate children on an adult bicycle.  Hikers can use child backpacks often suited to ages up to 5 years old!  Research items carefully and choose equipment based on high recommendations, even if the cost is a little more it's better to purchase something that you and your children will enjoy AND USE.

Exercising with several children of varying ages and abilities probably poses the biggest complexity.  However, I can personally attest to overcoming much of this challenge as well.  Older children may be capable of running along side parents OR riding their bicycles.  My two oldest can sometimes run along with us depending on the distance.  Tracks are great, safe places to run with children.  Many are fenced so little runners can't escape and running in circles allows them to join in as they feel led.  I've used strollers on tracks with no negative feed back from the schools and my children can either run OR play.  They also think bleacher running is a blast!  Most days my youngest two ride in the stroller while my middle rides a bike and the oldest two run as much as they can.  On particularly challenging days especially when hills are present then all may want to ride bikes while the parent runs.  Greenways at parks, neighborhoods and of course tracks usually offer the safest places for several children to exercise alongside a running parent.  So while it's not always easy, it is certainly possible!



Noah moved up each meet, earning first at the final.  Exercise is always about your own personal best...and not just how you place amongst others, but if this is a motivator then do what works!




Seven year old Anna consistently came in second behind an eleven year old, definitely her personal best.


While the littlest ride, dealing with baby issues is par for the course too.  Setting out with the goal of making a strict PR time or the other extreme, a leisurely peaceful stroll is not always the reality.  Being flexible towards children's needs is a necessity for exercise consistency.  Scheduling sessions after young children are well rested usually yields best results in getting through a workout (a stroller snack is always a good distraction).  Paying attention to the weather conditions and dressing them accordingly is also important for comfort and safety.  While the parent may be generating heat during winter exercise, the little ones in strollers are not and compounded by brisk winds should be dressed for extra warmth.  Bringing water to drink and even a squirt bottle in the summer gives a quick cool down for sweaty little ones.  Remembering their comfort will often be the difference between getting in a full workout and going home prematurely.  My youngest of five is just now old enough to have his turn riding in the jog stroller, but this doesn't always mean that getting used to the new adventure is pleasurable!



Anna competes in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. 


Mom having a little photo fun during training runs...




Little five year old Lilly givin' it all she's got and loving to earn "different colored ribbons"...her own personal motivation!


And the biggest sport of all...little brother who endures high temperatures, blazing sunshine and lots of attention from spectators all in a single bound!


The important part of exercising as a family is instilling values of health.  Children live what they learn and parents who model a healthy lifestyle will be influencing their children's attitude towards it for years to come.  Childhood obesity is at record highs as a result of inactivity and the chemicals added to foods (namely high fructose corn syrup, GMO's, transfats found in highly consumed processed foods).  If children are taught early that exercise is fun and can experience it as a time of family bonding they're more likely to make it routine and consequently reap all the positive health effects.