Dear Carol,

My name is Dylan. My mom has me running with her on her Saturday runs to help me with soccer. I can only run 2 miles. I am 8 years old. What can I do to run farther? Should I wear running shoes? I wear my everyday tennis shoes. My mom can run 6 miles. Will I ever run that far? My big brother ran cross county in high school and my mom started running so she could run with him. He is 19 years old so she says I am her new running partner because Daddy is too fast for her to run with and my little brother is still to young. He is 6 years old.

Dear Dylan,

I am so glad that you have already discovered how much fun running can be. Running is really going to help you a lot with your soccer games.

Two miles is terrific and far enough in one stretch for an eight year old. Most kids are naturals at sprinting for a while, then stopping and then sprinting again.

Right now, I don't think that you should try to run any farther without taking a break.

I would say to go for the real running shoes. Visit a running store, choose a good name brand, and get fitted for the real thing. You wouldn't play soccer without the proper shoes. It sounds like you're seriously training, being Mom's number one training partner and all, so go for it.

Good luck to your running family and thank you for visiting our Web site. And yes, when the time is right you'll run that far and farther.

Note from the kid's editor: KidsRunning.Com loves to hear about running families. Please send us your stories and questions.

Photo of Matthew Linde, RW, Carol Goodrow, KR, and Parker Morse, RW at Runner's World, Emmaus, PA, July 2000, by Melanie Strong, RW.

Do you have any questions about a child's running program? Feel free to email the kid's editor at carol.kids@rodale.com.