We need your help again, gals: This week we are recording podcast about 5K races. We want to hear many voices on the topic.

Please record a Voice Memo, starting with your name and where you live, then tell us why you love, hate, avoid, or are addicted to 5K races. A standout memory. A goal you keep striving for. The buzz you get from one. The Voice Memo should last 1 to 2 minutes total.

Please email your Voice Memo to runmother [at] gmail [dot] com by 5 p.m. PDT today (Tuesday, July 19). Thank you VERY much!

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Meagyn sent us this comment recently regarding seeing a lot of kids, some as young as preschool/kindergarten aged, running a 5K with their parents this past weekend. While not all races are open to kiddos, she mentioned maneuvering around the little ones, especially 8-9 year olds who “seemed to be running on their own and not understanding the rules of the race, which side to pass on, you can’t come to a dead stop mid run, etc.” threw her off her (9 min/middle of the pack) pace. We posed the question on Facebook and overall, the response was pro kid. We’ve culled some great tips (from the 120 comments!!!) from the Tribe for prepping kids (and adults, cough, cough) with race etiquette:

I think we should be the helpers.. take 2 seconds and say “careful sweetie, walk on the side so you don’t get run in to.” Runners have such a great community, let’s encourage the kids to keep going, and make them feel a part of the community.
Mattie Porter

Looking at the majority of kids in America and how unhealthy they are, I think it is amazing to see kids running races and I highly encourage it! I would love to be tripping over kids during a race if it meant they weren’t at home sitting on their butts playing video games. And I also feel like me not reaching my goal time is totally worth it if I had to be stuck behind some kids doing their thing.
Jonna Hatton Anderson

I love it when kids are out racing/running! If you want a fast race or PR, then pick your race accordingly. I get my kids involved in races/runs as often as I can but we talk about walking to the side and being aware of other runners. My hope is that they’ll grow up loving to run and will learn healthy habits now! And besides…running is always better with a medal at the end!
Carissa Howard

Love seeing the kids involved and moving, but almost think courtesy rules should be mentioned before the race. My peeve right now are the walkers and strollers starting mid-pack, not at the back!
Susan Schwartz Breske

Support the kids and help them learn–they didn’t benefit from having someone teach them in advance. I have had more issues with adults performing these bad behaviors than kids. All 3 of my girls started running with me when they were 4-5 doing 5ks. When they started to beat me around age 7…I would get to observe their interactions on the course as we looped by each other. I loved how nice everyone was to them on the course- shouting you go girl! (Especially in tris where your age is on your leg). Be that person, encouraging them. I always make it a point to encourage the young ones.
Stephanie DeWeese Sadowski

There are lots of races geared towards families and others are clearly not. Know what you are signing up for and be prepared.
Deanna Hays

I say encourage them! Heck, teach them the rules kindly on the course! I love giving encouraging words to kiddos struggling on courses. If you see them stopping mid course, maybe say, “Ekk, scoot to the right hun! Hate to see someone make you a speed bump.”
Annette Becker Stoffel

I’ve run hundreds of races and the kids are always the best part!
Katie Oglesby

Have anything else to add? Tell us in the comments section below!