KidStriders

KidStriders, first piloted in Spring 2006, has been "running strong" since. This is a primarily school-based incentive program which revolves around the goal of running and/or walking a minimum cumulative marathon distance of 26 miles during recess KidStriders sessions. 

Students are recognized with a plastic foot token to tie on their shoelaces for every five miles they complete, a T-Shirt for reaching the 26-mile goal along with the opportunity to participate in a “Victory Run” held at the Grand Blue Mile presented by the Drake Relays and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

KidStriders is a unique fitness program in that it is offered during the school day so it is accessible to all students. It is not a “one-size-fits-all” program and can be defined to fit the needs of the individual school implementing it by way of time and manpower available to put toward it – we know these resources will vary from school to school, but feel that all children within a school should enjoy equal opportunity to participate. Accessibility to success for as many students as possible is the key to making “motorless motion” desirable and therefore habit-forming as students continue to strive to reach new goals.

If you are a school administrator, teacher, staff or authorized parent group representative interested in more information about how to implement KidStriders in your school, please e-mail Tessa Palmer.