Approximately 280 preschoolers to 8th graders finished a 1.2-mile Fun Run on June 24 that served as the final leg of the Kids Marathon, an annual 10-week event intended to promote wellness and prevent obesity and chronic disease among children.
Parents were able to sign up their children solely for the Fun Run, but most of the participants were completing the Kids Marathon.
Marathoners began working on their own in mid-April, attempting to run, walk or roll a total 25 miles over the 10 weeks leading up to Race Day. They earned incentives for achieving milestones at 5, 10, 13.1, 20 and 25 miles.
Any physical activity could count toward the first 25 miles, including gym class or other school activities; organized sports; walking, jogging or bike riding; or even household chores.
Participants also were able to earn miles by attending free, kid-friendly exercise, gardening, nutrition and cooking classes offered by Princeton Health’s Community Wellness Department.
The 1.2-mile run on June 24—held on the grounds of Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton—completed the full distance of a marathon.
Race Day featured a variety of fun activities for kids and parents alike—games; giveaways; music from two local radio stations; face painting (or arm painting, for that matter); crafting tables; a photo booth; and a visit from Rookie, the Trenton Thunder’s bat dog.
Fitness experts were on hand to guide the marathoners through a dance, calisthenics and stretches to warm up for the 1.2-mile run.
Thousands of young people have participated in the Kids Marathon since it was initiated by Princeton Health in 2009 as a way to raise awareness of the dangers of childhood obesity and promote regular physical activity for all children.