Cincinnati, Ohio – An Ohio couple is defending themselves after facing heavy backlash for running a marathon with their 6-year-old son.
Kami and Ben Crawford have six children and document their adventures on YouTube and social media pages. When Mr. and Mrs. Crawford ran his Flying Pig his marathon in Cincinnati on May 1, her entire family of eight, including her 6-year-old son, ran her 26.2-mile race together. It was my first time.
A runner reportedly saw a child crying during the race and started asking questions.
The online uproar that followed was swift.
Two days later, the family posted a lengthy reply on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
“We have never forced our children to run a marathon, nor can we even imagine it being practically or emotionally feasible. gave me.”
The Crawford brothers said their son Rainer “begged” him to participate in this year’s marathon, and if he asked or thought his safety was in jeopardy, they were “ready to pull the plug.” was made.”
“We asked him many times if he wanted to stop, but he was very clear that he wanted to continue.” We have honored his request and we are making great efforts to prioritize the health of our children.
“Yes, it brought tears to my eyes,” the Crawfords continued. “He fell and his whole family was crying during the marathon. These experiences were very limited compared to what has been reported.”
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In a follow-up video on Instagram, Ben Crawford said he and his family face public threats.
“The uproar we’re feeling right now is that a lot of people don’t feel as safe parenting in public as they do parenting at home,” Crawford said. “Look what happened to us…the kinds of threats being made publicly against us…it’s pretty crazy.”
Flying Pig Marathon organizers have addressed the controversy on their website. Marathon director Iris Simpson-Bush said the decision to allow children to race was “not taken lightly.”
“The father was still determined to race with a young child,” she said. Before I knew it I knew he might do so again, the intent was to try to provide protection and support if they were on our course (medical, fluid) and replenishment).
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“Our decision was aimed at some degree of safety and protection for the child,” she continued. The 18+ age requirement to participate in the Marathon will continue to be strictly adhered to.”
The Crawfords, on the other hand, admitted that their “parenting methods were unconventional,” but said the child abuse accusations were incorrect.
“Thank you to those who supported us on race day,” they said. “It’s been an incredible experience and I can’t wait to share more.”
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