Runners raising money for Marathon Kids
AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a little less than two weeks, runners will be off to the races in the Austin Marathon.
Last year, more than 13,000 runners took part in the Austin Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K.
This year, several staff members at the Austin Independent School District will run the race while raising funds for a local charity.
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Marathon Kids is an Austin-based nonprofit on a mission to get kids moving.
The organization is partnered with 56 AISD elementary schools. This school year, over 24,000 students have logged over 240,000 miles.
Zadie Linnen is a 5th grader at Sunset Valley Elementary School who loves to run.
“You focus on your breath and footsteps, so you don’t have to worry about anything else,” she explained. “You can just focus on running, so your stress and anxiety melts away.”
One day each week, her PE coach Jesus Martinez hosts a morning run club on campus.
“He’s so energetic and always upbeat,” Linnen said. “Every morning when you’re tired, he lifts your mood.”
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Martinez started the club last year with around 30 kids. Now, it’s quickly grown and expanded with 60 students showing up each week.
“It’s a time for kids to move their body and feel good about themselves,” he said. “Whether it’s a personal goal or whatever it is they’re trying to accomplish.”
Martinez has been leading these workouts with a digital tracking platform powered by Marathon Kids.
“You scan the QR code and on the screen, it’ll show how many laps that student has done in that time,” he said.
PE coaches have access to this online program, which tracks each child’s progress and the overall school goal.
Marathon Kids CEO Wendy Wheless says this year’s goal is for AISD schools to tally over 600,000 miles.
“It’s all about understanding the power of setting big goals, tracking towards those goals and celebrating big milestones when you achieve them,” she said.
More the mileage goals or increasing outdoor exercise, Martinez believes that running has elevated his student’s self-esteem.
“Getting an extra 30-minute run with their parents, running with friends and friendly competition are all reasons why my students have enjoyed run club,” he concluded.
Martinez will run in the upcoming Ascension Seton Austin Marathon on February 18.
Thus far, runners have raised over $25,000 for Marathon Kids.
According to the organization, that money is being used to keep the Marathon Kids Program free for all schools.
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