How far can children safely run?

April 3, 2011

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There are no set guidelines and a great variation in readiness, said Pierre d’Hemecourt, director of primary care sports medicine at Children’s Hospital Boston and director of Children’s Hospital Boston Running Program. But with proper training and parental attention to any discomfort, he said, children should be able to run the following distances:

▸Age 5: 100-200 meters.

▸Age 6-7: 3K race.

▸Age 8-10: Up to 5K race.

▸Age 11-14: From a 10K to a half marathon.