6 Reasons to Encourage Your Child to Run

I ran middle school track once. Literally, once. I attended a track meet, ran my race and received a shiny green participant's ribbon. My dad, a lifelong runner, was so proud. Had he witnessed the beginning of his daughter's illustrious running career?

Sadly, no. At 12 years old, I had much more important things on my mind: boys, bras, navigating the caste system of the school cafeteria. Running (or any sport, for that matter) wasn't on my radar.

It would be 25 years before I laced up another pair of running shoes. Now, three years later, running has changed my life in ways I never imagined. And while I wouldn't go back and change things, I do sometimes wish that I'd discovered my love for running a little (or a lot) sooner.

I'm a strong proponent of letting my daughters discover their own talents and passions. But I certainly wouldn't complain if either of them expressed an interest in running. Here's why:

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