Kids in and around the Roanoke Valley are running, walking, dancing, even rollerblading their way to the 26.2 mile finish line. Sound strange? The kid-friendly “Kids Marathon” is in conjunction with the upcoming Blue Ridge Marathon, being held in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Organizers calculated the number of steps each minute of various activities would cover so kids in grades K-5 can tabulate how far they are toward completing their “marathon.” For those who may not have heard about it, there is still time to sign up.
The plan is for kids to complete 25.2 miles on their own, and then finish the last mile together on race day, beginning at the Kirk Family YMCA, threading through the streets of downtown Roanoke, and finishing at the Blue Ridge Marathon Finish line behind the Taubman museum. This means the kids will cross the same finish line as the elite athletes participating in the marathon later that morning.
Some area schools have put together teams so their students can cheer each other on and get in shape together—even allowing students to clock miles during their physical education classes. The idea is catching on. There are even a few kids who are starting on their “second” marathon.
The Blue Ridge Marathon takes advantage of the renowned Blue Ridge Parkway; runners will experience that beautiful vista as well as get acquainted with Roanoke city as the course winds up downtown. The addition of a kid-friendly race modified just for kids dovetails well with the First Lady’s push to garner support in the fight against childhood obesity, which was again highlighted in early April at the White House Easter egg roll.
Cal Johnson, Executive Director of the YMCA of Roanoke Valley, said “By participating in this program, we hope to instill in each child a love and understanding of running and a chance to develop a healthy lifestyle when it is most important.”
After the marathon, kids are invited to enjoy “Healthy Kids Day” on April 24 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Kirk Family YMCA. There will be an inflatable obstacle course, games, and swim fun (bring your bathing suit) as well as give-aways and goodie bags.
The entire experience is planned so that kids can have a lot of fun while experiencing the benefits of exercise, along with the whole community. National College and Chick-Fil-A are sponsors of the much-anticipated event, along with the YMCA.
For more information, go to www.ymcaroanoke.org, or go to Facebook/YMCA Kids Marathon to get registered. Scholarships are available by contacting Cal Johnson at (540) 527-9622 ext. 3102.
By Cheryl Hodges [email protected]