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The kindergarten race begins April 7 at Lake Catholic High School in Mentor as part of the Healthy Kids Running Series event. (Courtesy of Max Radke)
Christy Sonderman has a 5-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter and knows it’s never too early to promote an active lifestyle.
When the Concord Township resident found out on Facebook about a local race at Lake Catholic High School that’s part of a national program called the Healthy Kids Running Series, she was all in, and so were her kids. was.
“I have a family member who ran cross country and track in high school, and the kids look up to him and want to be like him. It’s also about getting out of the house and away from the TV screen. This event is great because we can,’” Sonderman said. “Older kids are competitive, but little kids just run for the sake of running and have no idea what they’re doing, but they do it with a big smile on their faces. It’s special to see you do it.”
The local series at Lake Catholic begins April 7th and continues through May 5th at the high school soccer field every Sunday at 3 p.m.
Race coordinator Leslie Radke got involved in the series after her daughter competed in the event in 2022. At Mentor, she wasn’t running the race in 2023, but when she learned the local chapter needed someone to take on the responsibility this year, she was happy to put her name forward.
“After participating in 2022, my daughter kept asking me, ‘Mom, can I race again?’ So when the opportunity to participate came up, it was an easy decision,” Radke said. Told. “At the end of the series we award trophies to the older children with the fastest times, but our goal at Healthy Kids is to promote positive activity.”
According to its national website, HKRS was founded in 2009 with the aim of introducing children to the sport of running in a fun environment that fosters confidence and self-esteem. “Get Up and Go” attitude.
HKRS offers a comprehensive 5-week running series for ages 2 to 14 designed to help kids get active, feel accomplished, and build the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. We are a national, community-based nonprofit organization that provides…
Their mission statement is: “By providing a comprehensive youth running experience, we engage communities and families to inspire children to believe in themselves and lead active, healthy lifestyles.”
Radke arrived early on April 7 and set up a 400-meter course on the high school soccer field where the runners would compete.
She said the first of the five-week series will feature 84 participants in the 50-yard dash divisions, which consist of Pre-K (2 and 3-year-olds) and Pre-K (4- and 5-year-olds). The kids said they were enrolled in the 75-yard dash, kindergarten through first grade running a quarter mile, second and third grade running a half mile, and fourth through eighth grade running a mile.
This series is a national event. Opportunities are offered at multiple spots in Northeast Ohio, with races also held in Medina, Cleveland, and Mentor.
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