Atlanta Track Club is partnering with Atlanta Public Schools to kick off its fall youth running events and the fall season of Kilometer Kids with a celebration of cross country running on Wednesday, September 24. The season’s lineup includes family friendly distances at some of the organization’s signature events as well as free fun runs through Atlanta Track Club’s youth running program, Kilometer Kids.
Atlanta Track Club and Kilometer Kids aim to inspire and engage youth to become more active as well as help fight the childhood obesity epidemic. These events offer a fun, supportive environment to encourage kids to stay healthy through the sport of running.
“By offering a variety of running events for kids of all ages, Atlanta Track Club aims to introduce running as a fun and healthy activity,” said Rich Kenah, executive director of Atlanta Track Club. “Through partnerships like this with Atlanta Public Schools, we already have more than 2,400 kids from approximately 50 different programs enrolled in our 11-week program this fall. We look forward to providing a fun, safe running environment to even more kids through our fun run events.”
The kickoff of the fall youth running season begins with the Kilometer Kids Cross Country One-Mile Fun Run on Wednesday, September 24 at 5:15 p.m. The event is free and open to children ages 7-14, while kids ages 6 and under can participate in the shorter Kilometer Kids Dash. Additionally, participants are encouraged to cheer on their older peers and learn more about cross country running as Atlanta Public Schools high schools hold their weekly three mile Cross Country Series Meet at 5:30 p.m.
The Kilometer Kids fall youth running season includes:
- September 24 – Kilometer Kids Free Cross Country One-Mile Fun Run & Atlanta Public Schools Cross Country Series Meet – Grant Park (Recreation Center)
- October 8 – Kilometer Kids Free One-Mile Fun Run and Dash – Grant Park (Confederate Ave. & Boulevard)
- October 18 – Rise Up & Run 5K, Kilometer Kids One-Mile Fun Run and End Zone Dash – Georgia Dome
- October 22 – Kilometer Kids Free One-Mile Fun Run – Tribble Mill Park – Lawrenceville
- November 5 – Kilometer Kids Free One-Mile Fun Run – Grant Park (Confederate Ave. & Boulevard)
- November 27 –Thanksgiving Day 5K, Mashed Potato Mile and Gravy Gallop – Turner Field
For more information or to register for these and other Atlanta Track Club events, participants can visit atlantatrackclub.org. To learn more about Kilometer Kids, visit kilometerkids.org.
About Kilometer Kids
Kilometer Kids is a youth running program dedicated to inspiring young people to achieve health and fitness through running. The fun and supportive program is run by Atlanta Track Club, the second largest running organization in the United States and organizer of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. Founded in 2007, Kilometer Kids has impacted more than 5,000 young people in metro Atlanta and beyond. The nonprofit program is funded by partners, private donations and Atlanta Track Club. For more information on Kilometer Kids, visit kilometerkids.org.
About Atlanta Track Club
Atlanta Track Club is a nonprofit committed to creating an active and healthy Atlanta. Through running and walking, Atlanta Track Club motivates, inspires and engages the community to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. With more than 20,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the largest 10K running event in the world and the Atlanta Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 5K (atlantahalfmarathon.org), Atlanta Track Club directs more than 30 events per year. Through the support of its members and volunteers, Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through Atlanta Track Club’s All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program. For more information on Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.