articles

🏃 Register Now for the Fall Healthy Kids Running Series

5-week Healthy Kids Running Series starts September 8th: Ages 2 years old - 8th grade!

By Erica Alhorn August 12, 2024

On your mark, get set, FUN! 👟 Mark your calendars and break in those new sneakers! The Fall Healthy Kids Running Series Lombard/Glen Ellyn starts September 8th! 

This 5-week running series is a great way to introduce your kids to a running and a healthy lifestyle in a fun way. The race is broken out into 7 different age groups and distances, with the youngest group of 2/3 year olds in the 50 yard dash, all the way up to 6th-8th grade group running 1 mile. So it is not overwhelming for little ones who may feel nervous about running alongside a lot of longer legs! Race day is also filled with fun community sponsors, visits from your favorite characters, and of course, medals that your kids can keep and display to remember how proud they are of themselves for finishing! 

Where:

Hoffman Park
2s500 Gray Avenue
Lombard, IL US 60148

When:

Sunday September 8th 4:00 PM
Sunday September 15th 4:00 PM
Sunday September 22nd 4:00 PM
Sunday September 29th 4:00 PM
Sunday October 6th 4:00 PM

Awards: 

All participants receive a medal on Week 5! Trophies will be awarded to the overall top finishers in each of the divisions listed below (broken out by boys and girls respectively):  

Kindergarten & 1st Grade
2nd & 3rd Grade  
4th & 5th Grade  
6th to 8th Grade    
Challenger*

*Challenger: This Series offers a Challenger Division which is an adaptive 75 yard race for children with disabilities and/or special needs. This allows for parents, siblings, and friends to be on the course with runners to provide support as well as supportive devices such as crutches, braces, wheelchairs, etc. to be used by runners.


Need help getting ready for the race? They have put together some great training resources for your kids to start practicing now! 




A little more about the Healthy Kids Running Series:

It was founded in 2009 to provide children with a fun introduction to the sport of running in an environment that builds confidence and self-esteem. We believe the program will continue to encourage kids to adopt a "Get Up and Go" attitude. 

Healthy Kids Running Series is a national, community-based non-profit that provides a fun, inclusive five-week running series for ages 2-14, designed for kids to get active, feel accomplished and lay the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Let's all continue to #GetUpandGo!

Mission: To engage communities and families by providing an inclusive youth running experience, inspiring kids to believe in themselves and lead an active healthy lifestyle. 

Vision: An international, inclusive and fun youth running program led by dedicated, local coordinators where all kids celebrate their success and develop an active healthy lifestyle.

Values: 

  • Crawl, Walk, Run (decisions that impact today but more importantly tomorrow) 
  • Be Kind (treat others as they want to be treated)
  • Make An Impact (wanting to return for the next race and season)
  • Live the Healthy Life (believe, and inspire others to believe)


Ready to sign up? You can pre-register for all 5 race dates for $50, or you can register the day of each race for $20.

**Early bird sign up: Register before August 18th and get all 5 races for only $45!