My Son’s Next Running Challenge: A Father-Son Journey

As I reach 1910 in my ongoing “Diary of a runpreneur” vlog, today I’m reflecting on a particularly special chapter – my oldest son’s potential next running challenge. If you’re the parent of a sporty teenager, especially one aged 14 or 15 with a keen interest in running, this storey might resonate with you.

We’re currently enjoying a family holiday in Verrières de la Frontera, where the landscape is nothing short of formidable. Our daily runs together have seen us tackling at least 200 metres of elevation over 7-7.5 kilometres – easily the toughest terrain I’ve ever worked through with him. Running in these conditions, especially whilst vlogging, breathes a whole new meaning into training, but it’s been nothing short of incredible seeing my son embrace the challenge.

Recently, I was preparing for a marathon in the autumn, but my plans changed when my travel companions pulled out. That’s when the idea struck – what if my son wanted to take on a half marathon with me instead? To my surprise, he’s actually quite keen. He’s not 100% committed just yet, but the fact that he’s interested is genuinely exciting. It’s been a long-time dream of mine to share a race experience with him, to tick off a bucket-list goal together.

However, I’ve learnt from my own experiences that it’s so easy as a parent to get over-eager and push too hard when your children show an interest in something you’re passionate about. I’ve made that mistake before and nearly put them off completely. So this time, I’m dedicated to nurturing his interest, whatever he ends up choosing. If running a half marathon together becomes our next adventure, I know it will be a meaningful and memories-rich journey for us both.

There’s something truly sacred about sharing sporting experiences with your children. It’s not just about the race itself but the training, the support, and those little moments we get to bond over a run, no matter how steep the hill (literally and figuratively). My advice to any parent: encourage, support, and enjoy every step together, but always let them set their own pace.

If you have questions or want to share your own parenting and running stories, I’d love to hear from you. And if you believe in my mission to save children’s lives through my barefoot ultra marathon fundraising project, please consider subscribing, liking, and sharing my journey. Every view, comment, and bit of support helps us get closer to making a real impact.

Stay positive, stay happy – and see you again in tomorrow’s run!