Originally published Sept. 26, 2019 by KATC-ABC.
By Katie Lopez
It is a way to help kids adopt that “Get up and go!” attitude.
“We want it to be fun,” Nannette Cook, physical education teacher and Lafayette’s healthy kids running series coordinator, said. “Running is something that everybody can do, when they get older they don’t love it as much, but when they’ve younger they do.”
The Healthy Kids Running Series came to be last year. While it does offer that physical activity that some kids lack–it also offers a little friendly competition along the way.
“When I see that precious two year old running and even the 12 and 13 year olds trying to improve their times and motivating themselves…it makes me feel good,” Cook said. “That type of motivation and competition and challenging yourself is something you can take on the rest of your lives.”
The series does not take up much time and Cook said offers a lifetime of benefits.
“My whole mission as P.E. teacher is to make kids love exercise and love activity and build healthy behavior they can take on through life,” Cook said.
It is those benefits that make the Sunday afternoon run worth it for mother Gretchen Daniel.
“From soccer to football to baseball to horseback riding…it’s helped my daughter with that,” Daniel explained. “It helps their confidence and they just feel better about themselves.”
The Healthy Kids Running Series starts on Sunday, September 29th at Thomas Park.
It will happen from 4:30pm to 5:30pm and ages 2 to 8th grade are welcome to participate.
It costs $40 dollars for 5 weeks and children can win awards.
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