THE KAISER PERMANENTE KENNY KING YOUTH FITNESS PROGRAM
2008 marks the 20th year the California International Marathon has offered it’s free Kaiser Permanente Youth Fitness Program with it’s Kaiser Permanente maraFUNrun finale. It was established in honor of Kenny King, who was Sacramento’s oldest runner at age 77. This program has since introduced over 30,000 youngsters to the sport that Kenny loved so much. We believe this program will help children establish life long fitness habits, so they too can be active at age 77 and beyond. The CIM welcomes the return of its Youth Fitness sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, who shares the CIM’s commitment to the fight against childhood obesity and to improving the health of our children. Kaiser Permanente is also the sponsor of the 2.62-Mile maraFUNrun and Fitness Walk.
This free program teaches our children that running is fun by using very gradual distance increases and by rewarding them with special ribbons for cumulative distances achieved: 5 km (3.1 miles), 10 km (6.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles) and marathon (26.2 miles). Training tips are listed below and go to this page for a sample training program.
Start the program eight weeks before the Kaiser Permanente 2.62-mile maraFUNrun held on Marathon Day, always the second Sunday after Thanksgiving. Keep track of the distances each youth achieves by recording them in the sample log or in one of your own. Be sure you have your complete contact information on the log.
As the youths complete specific distances, send the CIM office copies of the distance logs achieved by your participant. Be sure to include your return address. The CIM will then send your youths their special ribbons.
In September event applications for the program's finale, the Kaiser Permanente 2.62-Mile maraFUNrun (held December 7, 2008) will be sent to schools and other groups who have contacted us. Make additional copies as necessary and use them to register. Online entries are free to all children ages 13 and under and to the teacher, coach, group leader or parent involved in the Kaiser Permanente Youth Fitness Program.
- An effective motivator is to relate the total miles run by your entire group to a defined distance, such as across California or the U.S. Use a big map to mark the progress of their chosen route.
- Send a copy of the distance log to the CIM office as soon as the participants achieve their marks, rather than waiting to send them in all at once. The certificates are excellent incentives to motivate the children to stay with the program.
- Try to promote completion of the training program by the entire class or group.
- Emphasis should be on participation and having fun, NOT on speed or on winning each run. We want to make this experience a positive experience to encourage a lifetime enjoyment of fitness activities for all our youth.
- If your participants wish to continue a running program in cross country or track, contact the CIM office for information about Junior Olympic programs available to youth of all ages.
- Upon your request we will send you an excellent youth running pamphlet, "Children’s Running: A Guide for Teachers and Coaches." This booklet, published by the Road Runners Club of America, contains sound advice and additional motivational activities.
If you know an elementary school or children who might be interested in this program, please have them view this information or write to the Sacramento Long Distance Running Association, P.O. Box 161149, Sacramento, CA 95816, or call 916-983-4622.
Finally, do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or comments: California International Marathon office: (916) 983-4622
We want to make the Kaiser Permanente Youth Fitness Program the best that it can be and we need your help to do this. Thanks!
updated 12/29/2008