Youth Fun Runs Gaining Popularity Across the Country

On Friday, November 24, Bart Yasso traveled to Philadelphia for an interview with Fox Philadelphia 29 News about Youth Fun Runs. More and more races around the country are adding fun runs for kids as a way of including the entire family in weekend-long festivities. Fun runs for kids are also gaining popularity as a way to introduce children to physical fitness and a healthier lifestyle.

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/kids-fun-runs-grow-in-popularity
(Lehigh Valley Running Scene is listed as a resource for running events
and information at the end of this news segment.)

As childhood obesity and juvenile diabetes grow to disturbing new levels, Americans are becoming more conscious about the choices we can make to help turn the numbers around. According to the CDC¹, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Not only that, each year more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the United States². That equates to 40 children per day. These are numbers we cannot ignore.

Kids naturally want to run. It’s as if there is an inborn desire we are all programmed with that makes kids step outside and start running and jumping around. By involving them in organized fun runs it teaches them at an early age the benefits of being active and maintaining a healthy diet. It also helps to build self-confidence as they cross the finish line.

That accomplishment of doing what mom or dad does, running a race and finishing, can create memorable lessons and help them to accomplish other goals as they move forward in life. These lessons can be carried over to school and education where if they set goals and work hard, they can accomplish whatever they set out to do. Not only can running build self-esteem, it can also build compassion and create a sense of humanity towards one another. The idea behind the fun runs is just that, to have fun; it’s not about how fast or how far the kids can run. By teaching our children to help the slower kids cross the finish line we are teaching them the value of team work.

Some may criticize involving youth at too young an age in these types of activities but what is worse [in this author's opinion] is allowing them to sit in front of a TV or computer for hours on end and indulge in an unhealthy diet. Be engaging children in physical activities it is far better for their heart health, their joints and their muscles. It is far worse to stunt physical development with inactivity than it is to encourage physical development with healthy activity.

What is Bart Yasso’s dream? For every run in the country to have some form of a kids fun run attached to it. I would agree that this is an admirable and achievable goal, and one that can happen if enough people care.

Here in the Lehigh Valley there are several running and fitness events in which children can participate.
These include (not a complete list):

LVRR Kids Fun Run – every other Saturday from May-August in Lehigh Parkway
St. Luke’s Kids Run – held in conjuction with the St. Luke’s Half Marathon every spring
LVRR Emmaus 4 Mile – April, includes a 1 mile youth run
LVRR Healthy Kids Active Playdates - June-August, parents and kids meet once a week throughout the summer for kid-friendly hikes and fitness activities
Running of the Dawgs – includes a 1 mile fun run, June
Kids Duathlon – July, bike/run event for children ages 6-14
Grings Mill 5k/10k - August, includes a 1/2 mile kids event
Northwestern Tiger Trot 5k – August, includes a 1/2 mile tot trot
Ketchup if you Can 5k – August, includes a kids run ranging between 1/4-1/2 mile
Run Wild at the Zoo 5k – August, includes a 1 mile fun run

There are several other activities besides running that your children can participate in, ranging from free programs such as the Pee Wee Pedalers at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown to youth sport programs, clubs or classes which include activities such as swimming, soccer, softball/baseball/t-ball, dance, martial arts and more. Do your kid a favor and check them out. As parents, teaching our children a healthy lifestyle is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.

References
¹ “Childhood Obesity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 3 June, 2010. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.

² “Type 1 Diabetes Facts.” Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.

Addendum

Clarification on Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes: Type 1 is an auto-immune disease and is not preventable through diet and/or exercise. On the other hand, Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented. From the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International website:

Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) can occur at any age, but most commonly is diagnosed from infancy to the late 30s.  In this type of diabetes, a person’s pancreas produces little or no insulin.  Although the causes are not entirely known, scientists believe the body’s own defense system (the immune system) attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.  People with type 1 diabetes must inject insulin several times every day or continually infuse insulin through a pump.

Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset) typically develops after age 40, but can appear earlier, and has more recently begun to appear with more frequency in children.  In this form of diabetes the pancreas still produces insulin, but the body does not produce enough or is not able to use it effectively.  Treatment includes diet control, exercise, self-monitoring of blood glucose, and, in some cases, oral drugs or insulin.