YMCA Kids Marathon

The YMCA is celebrating Healthy Kids Day along with
the Blue Ridge Marathon being held in honor of the
75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway!

The YMCA Kids Marathon is an opportunity for young runners + walkers + active youth in grades K-5 to participate in a marathon – modified just for kids!

The YMCA Kids Marathon is a non-timed and non-competitive event. By participating in this program, we hope to instill in each child a love and understanding of running and a chance to develop a healthy lifestyle when it is most important. Each young athlete will learn to set and achieve an attainable goal and enjoy the pride of accomplishment.

The YMCA is inviting all area elementary schools to build a team!

  • Help keep kids engaged
  • Offer opportunities to clock miles during physical education classes

Participants complete 25.2 miles on their own or with family, friends or classmates prior to race day. On Race Day – with a team of volunteers cheering them on — all participants will complete the last mile together beginning at the Kirk Family YMCA; through the streets of downtown Roanoke (the roads will be closed to all traffic); and finishing at the Blue Ridge Marathon finish line behind the Taubman Museum.  Each YMCA Kids Marathon participant will cross the same finish line as the elite athletes participating in the Blue Ridge Marathon later that morning.

In the hopes of encouraging team spirit, the t-shirts provided for Race Day will be color coded to represent each individual school.  For more information or tips for building a team — call the YMCA’s Spencer Hoopes at (540) 527-9622 ext. 3105.

Race Date
Saturday, April 24, 2010

Race Time
8:00 am

Final Mile Starting Line
Kirk Family YMCA in Downtown Roanoke

Finish Line
Behind Taubman Museum of Art

Cost:
Visit www.BlueRidgeMarathon.com
$20 individual entry through 2/28/10
$25 individual entry after 2/28/10
$5 off entry fee for each additional kid in the same family (enter code FAMILY to receive discount)
Parents may run with their child at no additional cost. Parents do not need to register but you do need to email shoopes@ymcaroanoke.org to let him know.

How do I register? Click on the button below.


Get Cool Stuff
The first 300 kids to register get a marathon pedometer to keep track of their miles.

All registered participants receive:

  • Cool Tech Performance Race Shirt
  • Race Number Badge
  • Finishers Medal
  • Goodie Bag

Pedometers + Tracking Forms can be picked up at:

Kirk Family YMCA
520 Church Ave. in Downtown Roanoke

Gainsboro Family YMCA
108 Orange Ave. in Northwest Roanoke

Salem Family YMCA
1126 Kime Lane in Salem (across from the Salem Memorial Stadium)

Download Tracking Form at www.ymcaroanoke.org

Healthy Kids Day at Kirk Ave. YMCA (April 24, 9am-noon). Obstacle course, swimming, give-aways and more. Three blocks from marathon finish.