Just because you?re in kindergarten doesn?t mean you can?t run a marathon ? provided you pace yourself.
Baltimore Marathon Kids will hold their ceremonial First Mile of the free, 26.2-mile, six-month running/walking and nutrition program Saturday at Towson University.
“All children can be Marathon Kids,” said Kay Morris, founder and executive director of Marathon Kids. “Parents join in as the children work hard through their school?s physical education [program] or at home.”
Baltimore City public schools and Baltimore-area private schools enrolled nearly 5,000 kindergarten through fifth-graders in the program, according to a release from partner organization University of Maryland Hospital for Children.
In addition to daily walking and running, Marathon Kids are encouraged to eat five fruits and vegetables a day for at least 26 days each month.
Participating children will fill in half- and quarter-mile sections on a graphic chartof their progress.
At the end, a “Final Mile” ceremony will bring the participants back together to celebrate their achievement.
Those who eat more generous amounts of fruits and vegetables along with a healthful diet cut their risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?s 5-a-Day Web site.
Any program that encourages sustained exercise and activity is a much-needed counter to an epidemic of childhood obesity, said Steven Czinn, M.D., head of the Hospital for Children and professor and chairman of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, in a statement.
“As a result of this sedentary lifestyle and the health consequences of chronic obesity, this generation of children may be the first to have a shorter life expectancy than previous generations,” Czinn said in a statement. “Marathon Kids encourages children and their families to become more active … and the Hospital for Children is proud to partner with them through our successful Get Fit Maryland and Get Fit Kids programs.”
“We designed Marathon Kids to target children who are most vulnerable to leading a sedentary lifestyle and most at-risk for childhood obesity and subsequent problems such as type 2 diabetes,” said Morris.
Baltimore Marathon Kids fast facts
» Kickoff: 10 a.m. Saturday
» Where: Towson University?s Johnny Unitas Stadium off Auburn Drive on the university campus
» Homeschoolers welcome: e-mail [email protected]
» Volunteers needed: e-mail [email protected]
» More information: marathon kids.org/Baltimore2008.asp
