In mid-April, young people throughout central New Jersey began racking up miles — running, walking or rolling — as part of the Kids Marathon, a long-form event presented each year by Penn Medicine Princeton Health’s Community Wellness program.
The 10th annual event will conclude on Sunday, June 24, with a 1.2-mile fun run on the grounds of Educational Testing Service (ETS), 660 Rosedale Road, Princeton.
Between now and then, participants will work on their own, striving to cover a total of 25 miles, or an average of about 2.5 miles a week. The 1.2 miles on June 24 will complete the full distance of a marathon. The event provides a fun way for children to be physically active.
“Any activity can count toward the total — gym class, organized sports, riding your bike, walking to school, even household chores,” said Debbie Millar, director of Community Wellness. “We also sponsor free, kid-friendly classes in exercise, gardening, nutrition and cooking that kids can complete to earn miles toward their total. Healthy habits often start in childhood, and that is the goal of the Kids Marathon and these supporting programs: we want to give young people a strong foundation for developing healthy lifestyles.”
Dann Dingle, director of support services, emergency management and safety officer at Princeton Health, is among dozens of volunteers who support the Kids Marathon each year, serving as the race starter and helping with setup and breakdown at the end of the day.
Two years ago, the Kids Marathon took on a new dimension for Dann when his son Ronan — then 6 years old — began participating. The first year, father and son ran together. By the next year, Ronan wanted to tackle the 1.2 miles on his own while Dann cheered him on from the sidelines.
“It’s a great event because it’s fun for kids, and it gives them something to look forward to,” he said. “And they also have a goal to work toward leading up to Race Day. With my son, the Kids Marathon was a milestone event. He had never run such a long distance before, and he took pride in it. I was proud, too, that he accomplished a goal like that at such a young age.”
The marathon is open to children of all abilities from pre-K through 8th grade. The registration fee is $25, and the proceeds benefit Princeton Health programs to promote wellness and prevent obesity and chronic disease in children.
However, if cost is an issue, Millar said free scholarships are available.“We want to encourage participation,” she said.
Parents can sign up their children at www.princetonhealthinmotion.com or by calling 1.888.897.8979.
The Kids Marathon is presented by Community Wellness in partnership with Princeton Fitness & Wellness. Thousands of young people have participated in the Kids Marathon since it was initiated in 2009 to raise awareness of the dangers of childhood obesity and promote regular physical activity for all children.
The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Children and adolescents with obesity face greater risk of bone and joint problems, sleep apnea and social and psychological issues. They also tend to have obesity as adults, making them more susceptible to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and several types of cancer. Research shows that type 2 diabetes is a growing problem among teens as well.
Physical Activity & The Health Of Young People
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children age 6 and older get 60 minutes or more of physical activity every day, but research shows that the vast majority of young people do not meet that goal.
BENEFITS OF REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
-
Helps build and maintain healthy bones and muscles
- Helps reduce the risk of developing obesity and conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain types of cancer
- Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety and promotes psychological well-being
- May help improve students’ grades, attendance, cognitive performance (for example, memory) and classroom behavior
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm