Kilometer Kids

Kilometer Kids logo featuring stylized running figure and winged symbol with black and red text.

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. Throughout 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 REGISTRATION for PUBLIC TEAMS for FALL 2026 open on August 11! For questions, please email kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org.

HEAD COACH registration for Fall 2026 open on July 28! If you are interested in hosting a program for Fall 2026, please reach out to kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org.

Interested in hosting a site or have additional questions? You can contact us at kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org.

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

Please note: Kilometer Kids does not offer Summer or Winter Programming

Age

  • K-5th Grade (Ages 5-12)

Date & Time

  • Fall 2026: September 7-November 20, 2026

Site Registration Period for Head Coaches:

  • Fall: Opens July 28, 2026

Participant Registration Period

  • Fall: Opens August 11, 2026

Location

  • Bring it to your school, neighborhood, or community organization! See the map below for this season's locations.

Cost

  • FREE

Fall 2026 Program Sites

Fall 2026 Program Sites

Kilometer Kids registration for the Fall 2026 season opens on August 11. Beginning July 28, you'll be able to view the teams that have registered for the upcoming season.

If you don't see a site near you, don't worry! Coach registration remains open throughout August, so new teams may continue to be added all month leading up to the start of the season. Be sure to check back, as additional locations may become available.

To explore the map, please use the filters to search for teams by Program Type and Zipcode.

Please note: PUBLIC teams (black icons) are open to anyone to join, while PRIVATE teams (red icons) are restricted to those who attend a specific school or are members of a particular group or organization.

To be added to the e-list for future seasons, please fill out this form.

For questions, please email kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org.

Building Confidence Through Running | Community in Focus Documentary Feature

In 2025, through the support of Laureus Sport For Good Atlanta and Community in Focus, Atlanta Track Club's Kilometer Kids program was selected to be featured in Sports For Change, a documentary episode that spotlights three Atlanta nonprofits who are transforming the lives of youth in Atlanta through the power of sport.

Watch the Kilometer Kids' segment above to see the program through the eyes of young participants, parents/guardians, and coaches. This story captures how running is about more than fitness—it's about effort, inclusion, and joy.

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.

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

-Parent, Piedmont Park Kilometer Kids


"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, Piedmont Park Kilometer Kids 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, Piedmont Park Kilometer Kids


"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, Brook Run Park Kilometer Kids 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."

-Parent, Piedmont Park Kilometer Kids


"[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, Piedmont Park Kilometer Kids Parent/Guardian


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

-Brook Run Park Kilometer Kids Parent/Guardian


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 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 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 RRCA Child Protection Training 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

For more information on coach roles and expectations, please refer to this document.

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. Through generous donations to the Atlanta Track Club Foundation, along with external support from foundations, companies, and organizations, the program continues to thrive.

Inspiring The Next Generation

Camille Laus and Laurie Fierer, Atlanta Track Club Elite athletes, engaging with Kilometer Kids at practice at Shirley Clarke Franklin 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 The Staff Team

Kathleen Schellman: Program Manager, Kilometer Kids & Youth Running



Kathleen is the Kilometer Kids Program Manager! She grew up in Atlanta, where her passion for sport and running developed through her high school years. Her first "real race" was the Peachtree Road Race at age 13, where she set her sights on beating her mom—and succeeded! After earning her B.S. in Kinesiology Exercise Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham while competing on their cross country and track teams, Kathleen is thrilled to join Kilometer Kids staff. She is eager to create more opportunities for Atlanta's youth to experience the benefits of exercise and establish lifelong healthy habits. Through her work, she hopes to inspire Atlanta's next generation to embrace movement and well-being as cornerstones of their lives.

Madison Poole: Coordinator, Kilometer Kids & Youth Running

Madison is the Kilometer Kids Coordinator! She grew up in metro Atlanta and discovered a love for running when she ran her first Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race in 2016. She graduated from Piedmont University in 2021 where she played collegiate soccer. After college, she discovered a love for youth programming and nonprofit work and is excited to bring this passion and experience to the Kilometer Kids program!