Kids for Running is a great way to get children in third through eight grades involved in the 10K (6.2 mile) Bellin Run. It is a great way to nourish children with the exercise they need in a non-competitive environment. Not only is it a great way to get them involved in a safe exercise program, but it also helps them get involved in the community. The Bellin Run gathers almost 13,000 people from all over the country and the Kids for Running program draws in children from throughout Brown County from both public and parochial schools. When the Kids for Running students and schools merge with the rest of the attendees on race day, what a learning experience it becomes!
In ongoing support of young runners, the Bellin Run has increased its sponsorship of the annual Fox Trot 5K [www.distancedemons.org] in De Pere, a one-of-a-kind run in Wisconsin exclusively for kids. The Fox Trot is done in partnership with the Kids for Running program, though it is also open to youth not involved in KfR. The Fox Trot serves as a good training run one week before the Bellin. It helps kids learn how to handle the tricky combination of starting line adrenaline and long distance pacing.
The Fox Trot is directed by Jay Harris, volunteer founder and coach of the Distance Demons youth running club.
2000 - The inaugural Kids for Running program was the 2000 Bellin Run. We pulled together 218 students from 7 schools in Brown County. This also brought to the race over 40 trainers/volunteers. Watching the Kids cross the finish line was one of the greatest experiences I've had.
2001 - The 2nd Annual event in 2001 was our first year to make improvements. We added to the list of positive reasons to participate in the program by giving out t-shirts to each child and trainer in the program and took pictures of each team! We drew 285 students from 13 schools and had the help of 75 trainers/volunteers.
2002 - In 2002 we made it very interesting. Each child on a participating team got to enter a drawing contest to create the 3rd Annual Kids for Running logo. We had 30 submissions! It was tough to pick a winner. Again we offered the t-shirts, discounts on registration fees and team photos. We had an amazing 561 students from 15 schools. We only did it with the help of the 164 trainers/volunteers.
2003 - In 2003 we continued the new tradition of doing a drawing contest to create the Kids for Running logo. What was new, however, was our partnership with the VERB program. They gave comic books to all of the participating children promoting fun activity. The children continued to get a discounted fee ($5 discount for students in Kids for Running ONLY). We had a record 854 students in the program, which included 3 Home School groups and 20 local grade schools. We estimated the number of trainers/volunteers at the schools to be similar to last year. Participating Schools were: Christa McAuliffe, Denmark, Doty, Foxview Intermediate, Fort Howard, Glenbrooke (Pulaski), Green Bay Christian, Heritage, Langlade, Lineville, Luxemburg/Casco, Martin Luther King, MacArthur, Martin, Notre Dame of DePere, Pioneer, Sullivan, Tank/Boys and Girls Club, Trinity Catholic (St. Judes) and Webster. Not only did we increase the number of schools in the Green Bay area, but expanded for the first time into Pulaski and Luxemburg- Casco. We also had several Parochial schools for the first time.
2004 - The 5th annual event was a huge success with 1210 participants. A total of 21 public and parochial schools were involved in the program with the assistance of volunteer trainers. All runners wore orange tee shirts with the running-shoe logo created by a fellow teammate.
2005 - The 6th annual Kids For Running had another record breaking year. With 28 public and parochial schools participating, 1440 students and trainers made the commitment to run the 29th annual Bellin Run. Nicholas Rinehard created the t-shirt logo all the kids wore with pride!
2006 - The total number of Kids for Running participants reached a new record totaling 1,954 kids and trainers with 35 schools invloved.
2007 - Kids for Running participation reached an all time high of 2217 students from 38 local schools.
2008 - Kids for Running after much demand, has expanded into the middle schools.
The Fox Trot is directed by Jay Harris, volunteer founder and coach of the Distance Demons youth running club.
