Projo Running Blog

In Part I of Running USA Youth Fitness Report 2007, Running USA Youth Program Coordinator Linda Honikman discusses various fitness initiatives taking place around the country for children:

Successful School-Based Running and Fitness Programs Expanding
Despite increased awareness of problem, obesity rates continue to rise
By Linda Honikman, Running USA Youth Program Coordinator

Road running events - with the help of industry supporters such as Nike, ING and Saucony and local hospitals, government entities and individual marathoners - are enthusiastically going back to school this fall. Across the country, successful training programs which began in part to fill the void left by PE reductions are expanding in both participant numbers and financial support - and for good reason. What parent or school official would not be impressed by the following teacher comments?

New York City Teachers Give High Marks to NYRRF's Mighty Milers Program
"Changes in the students' overall health is improving both in weight and performance. One kindergarten student was 110 lbs. He lost 42 lbs. through participation in this program."

"It really makes a difference in kid's lives. They are in better shape and not as obese as the other kids."

"It's great in helping kids to be healthy. At first, many students were breathing heavy, now they are not as lethargic."

"Definitely the kids have been more active and they have more energy. It wasn't easy in the beginning. We did a lot of walking and as time went on, they realized they have to pace themselves, and it's gotten easier and easier."

"Everyone in the school knows about the program and students come to school and hand in their homework in order to be in it."

The above comments are from the first phase of a study which is examining the effectiveness of the Mighty Milers program for elementary age students. Some of the more mature youth running programs such as those of the New York Road Runners Foundation are now able to begin measuring results to establish that this is not just a good idea, it's a good idea that works.

This fall the Foundation, supported by money raised from 1,000 ING New York City Marathoners ($3 million) and grantors such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will be serving more than 35,000 children a week in New York City - more than twice as many as last fall. They also received a $300,000 grant from the New York City Council which enables them among other things to serve 7,500 kids a week in a Mighty Meters program in Cape Town, South Africa. Other programs include a NYC Department of Education track and field series which involves 70 schools and 15,000 youth, partnership with Children's Hospital in 6 schools and a new Adopt-A-School effort that has matched Empire Blue Cross / Blue Shield with a school in need of support.

Big Sur Doubles Training Program Efforts and Adds Fall and Spring Kids Runs
'Just Run' is an ironic title for a model program that does so much. The low-cost fitness program that started just 3 years ago is proving that a few committed people - in this case from the Big Sur Marathon organization - can influence the health experience of entire communities. They expect to serve twice as many students this year - 9,000 in 2007-08 compared to 4,200 in 2006-07 and cover more than twice as many schools and organizations - 90 compared to 42 last year. What began as a Monterey County program in a few schools has now spread to Santa Clara, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Benito and San Diego Counties. In recognition of the program's effectiveness, the Monterey and Salinas Unified School Districts have selected Just Run as the fitness component of their after-school program for 2007-08. The program has received grants from several hospitals and schools districts as well as Saucony's Run for Good.

On November 10, the Saturday before the 2007 Big Sur Half-Marathon, a new free youth event has been added that will provide a Just Run program goal. Distances on the loop course will vary up to a 3K according to the appropriateness for each elementary school age group. A similar event will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2008 in addition to the Big Sur 5K which attracts a number of school participants and families. Both new runs, sponsored by the City of Monterey and Community Hospital, will be limited to 2,000 entrants and will start and finish at Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf. Other features include health screenings for adults and children, music and expo activities.

The Second O'side Turkey Trot Expects 31 Participating Schools
In 2006, the Oceanside Unified School District fitness scores were the lowest in San Diego County with only 18% of all 5th graders passing the minimum standards. In 2007, the students, teachers and administrators are excited about improving the health and well being of everyone by setting some new fitness goals and making plans to "Move Their Feet Before They Eat" on Thanksgiving morning. Motivational Rallies are being held at schools featuring an inspirational video of last year's race and a personal invitation from El Camino High School Graduate and National Cross Country Champion A.J. Acosta.

This year, elementary schools will be competing against each other for awards based on percentage of students who participate and entrants can designate a school to receive $5 of their entry fee. Also, the NIKEGO program is donating 200 pairs of running shoes to motivate underserved students in Oceanside's middle schools. For more information, contact Kinane Events at (760) 434-7706 or info@osideturkeytrot.com.

Texas Children's Hospital Training Guide and Kids Run Serve Ages 5 to 15
Organizers expect 5,000 elementary and middle school students to participate in the 2008 Texas Children's Hospital 3K and an Adaptive 1K for youth with special needs in January. The event which is supported by the Hospital, Chevron Houston Marathon, City of Houston and 25 Houston area school districts is free to all students coming with their schools.

Two doctors from the Hospital developed one of the first training programs for the middle school age group to prepare them to run on marathon weekend. Their curriculum is still the best educational guide available for running event preparation covering subjects such as the Cardiovascular System and the Metabolic System. The Training Guide that has been adapted for use with elementary age students can be downloaded from ChevronHoustonMarathon.com (click on Kids Run). The website also has 8 training videos that teachers can use to supplement the booklets.

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Launches Kids Online Program and 3 Goal Events
The Medtronic TC Kids Marathon provides a fun and effective way for teachers and parents to encourage kids to exercise by providing a free, flexible and practical online training program that parents and teachers build according to children's needs. The training program includes 12-week, 8-week and 4-week options, and are recommended for kids in grades K-6. Programs are geared to varied levels of fitness and can be customized for either the classroom environment or for running at home.

Each training season ends with a fun-filled community running event. Currently, teachers are using the 4-week option to prepare students for the October 6 Diana Pierce Mile, Half Mile or the Medtronic TC 5K - all part of marathon weekend. A new 12-week session will begin in October culminating with an indoor track meet in February and another kid's mile and half-mile with free lunch and zoo admission will be held in the spring.

The online program resources including tips on how to get started, how to keep training exciting, proper running techniques and strategies and a journal and log to track progress can be accessed at kids.mtcmarathon.org.

Marine Corps Marathon Healthy Kids Fun Run Reduces Fee
Organizers of the Marine Corps Marathon, voted "Best Marathon for Families" by readers of HerSports magazine, are expecting 3,000 children between the ages of 6 and 13 to participate in the October 27 Healthy Kids Fun Run presented by The Washington Post. The fees have been reduced 70% to just $2 to encourage more participation in the 1 mile non-competitive event. Children, grouped by age, will join Miles, the MCM mascot, and uniformed Marines at the start line near the North Pentagon parking lot. Afterwards, families are invited to Camp Miles, a post-run activity area featuring interactive challenges, entertainment and games focusing on health and fitness. Family Magazine will make a donation of $1000 to the PE department of the school that has the most participants on race day. Even though there is no formal training program established by the marathon, the event provides a goal that school based programs utilize. Kids representing more than 190 schools throughout the U.S. participated in last year's event. For more information, go to: MarineMarathon.com

Failing Obesity Policies, Future Health of Children in Jeopardy
Success stories such as these are especially welcome at a time when much of the news on the child obesity front has not been good. Associated Press reported recently that the billion dollars being spent by the federal government on nutrition education this year is not getting the desired results. Only 4 out of 57 programs reviewed showed any significant improvements in the way kids eat. At the same time, the numbers of over-weight people and the average American waistlines continue to grow. Last week, the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) published a report called "F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007". The study concluded that 20% of the residents in 47 states are obese and no state had a decline in obesity numbers.

"We are not sending a wake-up call; we're ringing the disaster alarm," said Dr. James Marks, senior vice president at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Chicago Tribune). Marks was especially concerned about the youth weight statistics. "These children could be the first generation to live sicker and die younger than their parents" (LA Times).

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