If you happen to see a group of small runners in matching red uniforms down by Lake Tye this autumn, then you've encountered the Fryelands Elementary School Running Club.
Maureen O'Brien, P.E. Specialist at Fryelands, originally started the club at Salem Woods in 1999, the year of the first Seattle Kids Marathon. When she moved to teaching at Fryelands, she brought the club along with her. This year more than 50 students are involved, including kindergarten students.
The Seattle Children's Kids Marathon is structured to allow children from kindergarten through eighth grade to complete a full 26.2 mile marathon at a rate that is fun and safe for their growing bodies, "one mile at a time.GÇ¥ The kids are responsible for running 25 miles on their own in the days leading up to the Kids Marathon, and then they do the last 1.2 miles in the Seattle Center and cross the finish line at Memorial Stadium.
This year the club started up mid-October and continues right up until the Seattle event scheduled on Saturday, November 29.
The club works together to meet their quota over the 22 days they run leading up to the marathon. "We get our 25 miles in, easy,GÇ¥ said O'Brien.
Brett de la Fuente is in 4th grade. He likes the route they take up to the intersection of Fryelands Boulevard and the Monroe-Snohomish Road for a very practical reason, "It's a hill. We get to run up and then we don't have to run as fast on the way back,GÇ¥ he explained.
The Seattle Kids Marathon encourages participants to read books and perform good deeds in addition to clocking their mileage. Kids get awards at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 miles, and an award for reading 13 books and doing 13 "Do RightsGÇ¥, i.e. good deeds.
People are eager to mention to O'Brien when they've seen the club out running in their matching uniforms. "I think it is fun for people to see the sea of humanity,GÇ¥ she said. "It's quite popular.GÇ¥
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment