Marathon Kids

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For the past 16 years, our K-5th grade students have participated in the Marathon Kids program. It is a six month endurance building running/walking, nutrition and schoolyard gardening program for students and their families. Marathon Kids learn to live an active and healthy lifestyle by running or walking 26.2 miles over six months, eating healthy food daily and learning to grow fruits and vegetables.

Students are challenged to run or walk 26.2 miles over six months. They are given a Marathon Kids Running Log where they color in each 1/4 mile they complete. This helps each student focus on his or her goal enabling them to see progress each day.

Students are encouraged to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day for at least 26.2 days of each month. They color in every serving of a fruit or vegetable they eat each day on their Marathon Kids Fuel Log. The Fuel Log is a tool to help children pay attention to what is fueling their bodies and helps them make better eating choices.

This program kicked off citywide in the fall at the Cotton Bowl where students ran their first mile. Students ran their final mile on March 31st at Loos Stadium. The smiles as they crossed the finish line showed pride in their achievement.

This program overlaps with our Green Hour Play and Getting Unplugged activities that we implemented this year. We motivated our students all year long to be active, physically fit students.