Austin--Thousands of Austin area K-5th grade school children and parents have been running and walking 26.2 miles over the last six months, with their parents and/or at school. Coloring in their incremental running logs in ¼ to ½ mile segments, they also have been eating “5-a-day” fruits and veggies for 26.2 days of every month, fueling healthy habits!
On Saturday, February 23, 2008, they gather in a glorious ceremonial Final Mile, finishing what seemed at first an insurmountable project: Marathon Kids!
In its eleventh year in Austin, the nationally acclaimed, free Marathon Kids® running/walking and nutrition program expects 20,000 of the 45,000 registered children to run on Saturday, Feb 23, at AISD’s Burger Stadium. 10,000 will be there at 9 a.m. with Austin ISD. 10,000 more will be at the 11 a.m. “other than AISD” gathering.
The newly renovated Austin ISD Burger stadium is graciously donated by AISD Athletics, for the occasion.
This past September, the K-5th graders either shyly or boldly raised their hand in class and said "Yes! I think I can run/walk 26.2 miles over the next six months! And, yes, I will commit to running 1/4 to 1/2 mile either at school or with my parents!" The net is thrown wide. All children can be Marathon Kids: fast/slow, overweight/slender, rich/poor, sighted/blind, able/disabled, deaf/hearing. Parents join in with the children, as the children work hard through Physical Education offering and/or at home, coloring in their incremental miles and learning to make healthy food choices.
The free Marathon Kids six month program is presented in the Austin area to public and private school districts, homeschools, private schools, by Whole Foods Market. Major Supporting Sponsor is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.
Physical Educators are a critical conduit for Marathon Kids curriculum, encouraging a lifetime of physical activity and health for children. These elementary teachers integrate the free program as a key element in their ongoing goal setting, activity and nutrition work, set by Marathon Kids and their own Standards for Physical Education. It is the fervent goal of Marathon Kids to build habits over the six months not only of a lifetime of physical activity but also to nurture vital promotion of more Physical Education for all children in the USA.
Marathon Kids® is an eleven year old non-profit. Birthed in Austin as a grassroots initiative, it is now in Los Angeles, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and Baltimore. Chicago Marathon Kids launches in 07-08.
There are over 100,000 K-5th graders now doing the nationally recognized, free Marathon Kids program. Marathon Kids target market are those children most vulnerable to childhood obesity, Type 2 diabetes: African American and Hispanic children. There are 300+ towns and cities on the Marathon Kids waiting list, as well as 14 foreign countries.
Community runners, Physical Educators, Classroom Teachers, local fitness enthusiasts, Whole Foods Market Team Members, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas volunteers, community runner volunteers, Austin Police Department, Austin Runners Club, AustinFit all make the Kick Off event a glorious experience for the little children.
At the free Final Mile Medal Celebration, Olympians will run with the “Flag Lap Marathon Kids” in the ceremonial flag lap. A jazz saxophonist will play the “Star Spangled Banner.” Representative schools will also be awarded their weatherproof “Marathon Kids Schoolyard Garden” sign in front of the crowd!
Also participating in the opening, ceremonial flag lap will be:
- Eduardo Sanchez, MD, UT Health Science Center, Director Institute of Health Policy, Marathon Kids Board Member
- Michelle Rusnak, Austin ISD Physical Education Coordinator
- Whole Foods Market Team Leader from Austin
- Betsy Foster, Whole Foods Market National Team Leader, Marathon Kids Board Member
- John Solomon, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Community Relations
- Shaun Jordan, 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist, swimming
- Paul Carrozza, RunTex Inc.
- Scott Murphy, Public Employees Credit Union
- Traci Neely, Round Rock ISD Physical Education Coordinator
- Karen Banks, Sustainable Food Center, Youth Gardening Program Director
- Gilbert Tuhabonye, elite runner, Gilbert’s Gazelles, activist for Burundi
- Sgt Scott Cary, Austin Police Department Fitness Team
As all the children cross under a magnificent gold balloon arch at the Final Mile Celebration Finish Line, after running in “rounds”, they will be given their EARNED free Finisher Medals, Reward Bumper Stickers. Some will receive sports massages from Austin Athletic Wellness Center.
During the six month program, all incentives must be EARNED. Later in springtime school assemblies, they will receive their Marathon Kids Finisher T-shirts.
Families with questions about Marathon Kids should visit http://www.MarathonKids.org / or ask their Physical Educator or Principal about participation.
Marathon Kids® was featured in Runners World Magazine as one of Ten Inspirational Heroes of Running. It has been showcased in The Weekly Reader, Scholastic News, USA Today, Nurses Digest, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Austin American Statesman, Baltimore Examiner, Her Sport Magazine., Prevention Magazine, CNN FitNation etc. The free Los Angeles Marathon Kids program received the national Saucony “Run for Good” Award, as well as a grant from the Mattel Children’s Foundation.
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..a global collaboration of families running/walking and making healthy food choices
Our Mission: Marathon Kids® is a ten year old, free, endurance building running/walking/nutrition/gardening program for kindergartners through 5th graders. Our mission is to build joyful community around children and be quickly accepted into public, private and home schools as a free, innovative celebratory fitness program, resonating with the child…and with the child's family. The goal is for the child to develop the love and habit of moving through space and to carry forward the power of muscular, nutritional and psychological well being.
Volunteer? Courtney@MarathonKids.org
Media? Sponsorship? Questions? Kay@MarathonKids.org
Contributions? www.MarathonKids.org Thank you!
www.MarathonKids.org
www.WholeFoodsMarket.com
www.bcbstx.com (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas)
www.RunTex.com
www.GinnysPrinting.com
www.kvue.com
www.pecutx.org
www.acupuncture4athletes.com
www.AustinRunners.org
