Kilometer Kids is Atlanta Track Club's oldest and largest youth running program. The free, game-based curriculum is designed to teach kids in grades K-5 about goal setting, healthy habits, respect, and community building, all by exposing them to the sport of running. Over the course of the 10-week season, the goal for every Kilometer Kid is to run 13.1 or 26.2 miles (depending on how many practices they attend each week). There is no fee to participate, and the program is for all elementary students regardless of running ability or experience. Being a Kilometer Kid is not about running the fastest or winning the race. Instead, it's all about working hard, being kind, and having fun while becoming more physically active, being a part of a team, and finding joy in the process.

PARTICIPANT & COACH registration for Spring 2024 is now CLOSED! (There are a few teams for Spring 2024 still accepting participants, please scroll down to "Public Teams To Join" to register with one of the teams with remaining spots).

If you are interested in hosting a site for Fall 2024, please email us at kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org and let us know where you are interested in hosting a site. Site Lead/Head Coach registration will open for the Fall 2024 season in mid-May.

To be added to the e-list for Fall 2024 participant information, please fill out this form. Registration will open for Participants for Fall 2024 will open in mid-July.

If you are looking for a program for middle schoolers, please check out Atlanta Track Club's Youth Team.

Date & Time

  • Fall 2024 Season: September 3-November 15, 2024

Location

  • Bring it to your school, neighborhood, community organization, or home!

Cost

  • FREE



What Happens At A Kilometer Kids Practice?


Curious about what a Kilometer Kids practice is really like? At practice, we always focus on building healthy habits like warming up before we start moving, practicing good sportsmanship, playing running-based games, tracking mileage on our runs, working towards our goals (e.g. running a half or full marathon), earning cool incentives, meeting professional athletes, and, of course, working hard, being kind, and having fun. Check out this video to see for yourself what Kilometer Kids is all about.

"This program [is] incredible! My son loves it and we all look forward to coming out twice a week. He's met some great kids and is so proud of his running."

-Batya, Atlanta Track Club Community Team Piedmont Park Parent/Guardian

"I want to thank [Atlanta Track Club] for helping us…move and inspire youth…The long life fitness goals presented in the Kilometer Kids [program] teach them proper techniques to live a healthy lifestyle."

-Griffin Ellington, Kilometer Kids Coach

"This is a phenomenal program and I thank [Atlanta Track Club] for supporting community fitness [through] education programs like this!!!"

-Jennifer, Underwood Hills Track Stars Parent/Guardian


"This is such a great program for kids who want to run but don't have a parent who does. So glad we were able to introduce our daughter to the sport in a fun, safe, and positive way!"

-Parent, Atlanta Track Club Community Team Piedmont Park


"My son loved collecting the bands, and he wears his [Kilometer Kids] shirt with pride because he earned it."

-Verity, Saint Jude Catholic School Parent/Guardian



"I just love the program! I continuously worry about my son's self esteem and anxiety and this program has been great because it gets kids focused on achieving and doing their best without ever putting them on the hot seat, or judging, or getting too competitive."

-Rebecca, Atlanta Track Club Community Team Brook Run Park Parent/Guardian


" We were so impressed with how much fun [our son] had and all the information he brought home to us."

-Christina, King Springs Elementary Parent/Guardian

"My daughter enjoyed the program more than I thought she would. She didn't want it to end. Her confidence has increased knowing that she can run a mile."

-Shalewa, Atlanta Track Club Community Team Piedmont Park Parent/Guardian


"[Kilometer Kids] improved my kids' team building effort and teamwork, supported their peers in a very friendly way, helped them set up goals and [understand] how to achieve these goals...It is an amazing program!"

-Maira, Atlanta Track Club Community Team Piedmont Park Parent/Guardian


"My daughter loved Kilometer Kids! She met new friends and loved all activities."

-Atlanta Track Club Community Team Brook Run Park Parent/Guardian


"I have been so impressed with the program for both 2021 and 2022. The coaches, the planning, and the curriculum (goal setting, etc) is so well executed."

-Parent, Atlanta Track Club Community Team Piedmont Park


The Site-Based Program

What makes Kilometer Kids different from many other sports-based youth development programs is that we do not train outside volunteers and send them out to schools and communities. Instead, in order to host a Kilometer Kids program, we require someone from that school or community to serve as the coach.

Every program site is unique with different needs, and a member of that community is best equipped to understand those needs. We believe this model fosters a greater sense of camaraderie and trust. So, if you are a teacher looking to start an afterschool physical activity program for your students, a parent trying to get the kids in your neighborhood moving, or a member of a community organization looking for new sports-based youth programming, our site-based Kilometer Kids program is for you!

As the site lead/head coach, you have the flexibility to decide whether you will participate for the fall and/or spring season, where your team will practice, and what days and times works best for you and your participants to meet. When you register as a Kilometer Kids site lead/head coach, you will get FREE access to:

  • Our 10-week, gamed-based running curriculum consisting of daily lesson plans that include weekly themes and discussion questions, fun games, daily runs and resources for further learning
  • Coaching orientation, CPR/First Aid training, and SafeSport certification to prepare you for the season
  • Electronic mileage tracking tools to make tracking your participants' progress streamlined and organized
  • T-shirts, wristbands and other incentives to motivate your Kilometer Kids to reach the goal of running 13.1 or 26.2 total miles
  • Opportunities for your participants to compete in FREE, fun, midweek runs and other Atlanta Track Club youth running events
  • Support, consulting and mentoring from Atlanta Track Club Staff, elite athletes and veteran Kilometer Kids coaches

Please email us at kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org if you have questions about starting a program.

Donate here to support community initiatives like Kilometer Kids!

The program launched in 2007 with one location serving 38 kids. Since then, Kilometer Kids has grown significantly and now impacts thousands of children each year in the Atlanta region and beyond. The program is funded by Atlanta Track Club, private donations, foundation grants, and community partners. Kilometer Kids is also an official charity of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race.

Atlanta Track Club
Community Kilometer Kids

Do you want to register your child for in-person Kilometer Kids but are not able to start a site in your school or community? Or are you looking to enroll your child in an afterschool program where they can meet new people? We've got a solution for you! Introducing Atlanta Track Club Community Kilometer Kids. We are excited to announce that Atlanta Track Club will run four Kilometer Kids site-based programs at Brook Run Park, Cheney Stadium, Piedmont Park, and Grove Park this spring. Like all other Kilometer Kids sites, participation is free, but while school-specific sites are restricted to those who attend that school, these teams are open to anyone!

Based on location practice days, practices will begin on Monday, February 26, Tuesday, February 27, or Friday, March 1. The last days of practice will be Wednesday, May 8, Thursday, May 9, or Friday, May 10. No practices will occur April 1-5 for Spring Break.

Registration is now CLOSED for the Spring 2024 season. To be added to the e-list for future seasons, please email us at kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org.

Location & Practice Times:

  • Dunwoody - Brook Run Park: Mondays & Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Summerhill - Cheney Stadium: Mondays & Wednesdays from 5:00-6:00 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Midtown - Piedmont Park: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5:00-6:00 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Westside - Grove Park: Fridays from 3:30-4:30 pm

If you would be interested in coaching at one of our community sites, please email us at kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org for more information.

Public Teams To Join

Does your school not have a team for you to join? Not to worry -- we have public teams available every season for you to join! The following public sites are participating in Kilometer Kids this season. Registration for the Spring 2024 season is now closed, but if you would be interested in joining one of these teams in the future, please email kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org to be added to our e-list.

  • Alpharetta: City of Alpharetta Community Center (City of Alpharetta); Wednesdays, 4-5 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Athens: Bishop Park (Athens Kilometer Kids); Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Brookhaven: Cowart Family YMCA (YMCA - Cowart Family); Mondays/Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Chamblee: Keswick Park (Keswick Park Kilometer Kids); Thursdays, 5-6 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Cumming: Fowler Park (Fowler Park Kilometer Kids); Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Decatur: Decatur YMCA (Decatur YMCA); Mondays, 4-5 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Dunwoody: Brook Run Park ( ATC Community Team - Brook Run); Mondays/Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Kirkwood: Bessie Branham Park (Bessie Branham Running Chickens); Sundays/Wednesdays, 4-4:45 pm/6-6:45 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Lawrenceville: Bethesda Park (Bethesda Park Kilometer Kids); Wednesdays, 6-7 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Marietta: Terrell Mill Park (Marietta Kilometer Kids); Mondays, 5-6 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • McDonough: Alexander Park West (Mighty McDonough Kilometer Kids); Sundays, 3pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Midtown: Piedmont Park ( ATC Community Team - Piedmont Park); Tuesdays/Thursdays, 5-6 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Smyrna: Tolleson Park (Smyrna Kilometer Kids); Tuesdays/Thursdays, 4:45-5:45 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • South Fulton: Burdett Park (On The Right Track - South Fulton); Wednesday, 4-5 pm (SPOTS REMAINING! Register here)
  • Southwest Atlanta: West End Family Life & Community Center (Southwest Atlanta Speed Racers); Sundays, 10-11 am (SPOTS REMAINING! Register here)
  • Summerhill: Cheney Stadium (ATC Community Team - Cheney Stadium); Mondays/Wednesdays, 5-6 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Suwanee: EE Robinson Park (Suwanee Splits); Tuesdays/Saturdays, 6-7 pm/10-11 am (TEAM FULL)
  • Tucker: Peter's Park (Tucker Kilometer Kids); Thursdays, 5-6 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Upper Westside: Underwood Hills Park (Underwood Hills Trackstars); Tuesdays/Thursdays, 5-6 pm (TEAM FULL)
  • Westside: Grove Park (ATC Community Team - Grove Park); Fridays, 3:30-4:30 pm (SPOTS REMAINING! Register here)

Private Teams

Our private teams are programs that restrict who can participate, meaning you can only sign up for this team if you attend that school or are a member of that organization. The following private programs are participating in Kilometer Kids this season.

  • Al Falah Academy
  • Aretē Enrichment Academy
  • Arrow Classical Academy
  • Ashford Park Elementary
  • Auburn Elementary
  • Baldwin Elementary (Junior Blue Devils)
  • Beaver Ridge Elementary
  • Benteen Elementary
  • Blackwell Elementary
  • Burgess Peterson iKids
  • City of Knowledge Islamic School
  • DeKalb Christian Home Educators (DCHE)
  • Evansdale Elementary
  • Fort Moore Kilometer Kids
  • Henderson Mill Elementary
  • Impact Racing Ministry
  • International Community School
  • King Springs Elementary
  • Kingsley Elementary
  • Kittredge Magnet School
  • Lilburn Elementary
  • McEver Arts Academy
  • Midtown International School
  • Milford Elementary
  • Mohammed Schools of Atlanta (MSOA)
  • Montgomery Elementary
  • Mountain View Elementary
  • Norcross Elementary
  • North Metro Academy Of Performing Arts
  • Northwest Classical Academy
  • Oakwood Elementary
  • Ola Elementary
  • Pickett's Mill Elementary
  • Pointe South Elementary
  • Powder Springs Elementary
  • Rock Chapel Elementary
  • Sharp Creek Elementary
  • Springmont School
  • SW Atlanta STEAM Stars
  • The Howard School
  • Tritt Elementary
  • Vanderlyn Elementery Vikings
  • Virginia Highlands Elementary
  • Wauka Mountain Elementary
  • YMCA - Carl Sanders
  • YMCA - Fowler
  • YMCA - Summit

Inspiring The Next Generation

Shane Streich, Yolanda Ngarambe & Gemma Finch of Atlanta Track Club Elite talking about how they build healthy habits with Kilometer Kids at Piedmont Park.

At Atlanta Track Club, a primary goal is to inspire the next generation of runners and walkers. We provide our youth program participants the opportunity to meet professional track and field athletes and to learn how they started their running and walking journeys, overcame personal challenges, and became elite athletes! Every season, members of Atlanta Track Club Elite visit many of our Kilometer Kids program sites to help lead participants through a proper warmup and cooldown, answer questions, share advice, play running games with the teams, and cheer Kilometer Kids on as they work towards their mileage goals,.

If you are interested in starting a program and bringing some professional runners to your school, organization or neighborhood, email us to learn more about this unique opportunity to help inspire your young runners and walkers.

Meet Madison!

Madison is the Kilometer Kids Senior Program Manager! Born and raised in Atlanta, she has fond memories of running the Peachtree Junior as a kid. After almost a decade away, she is excited to be back in warmer climate to join Atlanta Track Club to support youth through increasing access to opportunities for physical activity, and to build community through sport. Madison played collegiate soccer at Tufts University where she earned her B.A. in Community Health & Anthropology. She went on to earn her Master's in Public Health in Health Behavior & Health Education from the University of Michigan. In her free time, you can find Madison cheering on Atlanta United, looking for any excuse to eat ice cream, or planning her next travel adventure.

To learn more about Madison's journey with running, sports-based youth development, and Atlanta Track Club, check out her story in the January 2021 issue of Wingfoot Magazine as well as her feature by Microsoft as a part of their 2023 Game Changers campaign highlighting women in sports!