ATLANTA – August 28, 2017 – As the Kilometer Kids youth running program celebrates 10 years, Atlanta Track Club today unveiled a new free race series designed to provide children with more access to its events. The announcement comes as part of the Club’s renewed commitment to youth running (video of announcement included below).
The Kilometer Kids Youth Running Series will provide children ages 14 and under with access to 19 free events to keep kids moving all year long. The series includes entry into one-mile runs and 50m dashes already associated with Atlanta Track Club’s robust events calendar.
“The model and curriculum for Kilometer Kids has allowed our signature youth program to expand rapidly, but we want to double down on our commitment to the next generation of runners and walkers,” said Rich Kenah, Atlanta Track Club’s executive director. “By providing free entry into a variety of events, we hope to give children more opportunities to experience the fun of running, which ties directly to our mission to create a healthy and active Atlanta.”
Children ages 14 and under can participate in all of the events in the series for free with the exception of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia Peachtree Junior, which will continue to serve as the kid-friendly version of the AJC Peachtree Road Race with three distance options (3K, 1/2K, 50m Dash), a participant T-shirt and decathlon. Participants of the series will collect a unique token at each event that will fit together to form a puzzle.
Adults will still be able to participate in the one-mile events associated with the Resolution Run, Braves Country 5K, Atlanta’s Finest 5K, Mercedes-Benz Stadium 5K/Walk Like MADD and Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon & 5K. Those one-mile events will require a modest fee for adult participants.
The Kilometer Kids program has already grown exponentially since its inception with individual participants, school programs and mid-week fun runs. In its first year, the free, incentive-based curriculum reached 38 children. Ten years later, it impacts more than 8,000 children annually in the Atlanta metro area and beyond.
For more details on the Kilometer Kids Youth Running Series, visit atlantatrackclub.org/youth-running.
VIDEO
Click here for a video announcing the Kilometer Kids Youth Running Series available for use by all media.
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 27,000 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, the Publix Georgia Marathon, PNC Atlanta 10 Miler and Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 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.
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 impacts more than 8,00 young people in metro Atlanta and beyond each year. The nonprofit program is funded by partners, private donations and Atlanta Track Club. For more information on Kilometer Kids, visit kilometerkids.org.