Rod Dixon’s Kids Marathon Foundation runs to success! by Jeff BenjaminOver 4000 Students from over 250 schools -grades 8 & under- from the Los Angeles Unified School District Beyond the Bell Branch + 1000 Students from the Inland Empire and Chino Hills School District, together with Students from Glendora participated at the Final Mile Celebration at Dodger Stadium on March 8 2015. Together with these students of the KiDSMARATHON ‘in school’ programthere were 12,000 family and parents to cheer them on, as they ran their Final Mile of their MARATHON. 25,000 Students started training January 12 to accumulate 25.2 over the period of 8-10 weeks. They ran into Dodger Stadium over a distance of 1.2 miles thereby finishing the Marathon distance to great cheers and applause!
KiDS Marathon, a view from a participant, courtesy of KIDSMarathonFoundation.org
1972 Olympic 1,500 Bronze Medalist and 1983 NYC Marathon Champion Rod Dixon created the KIDS program to encourage children throughout the world to encourage fitness and fight childhood obesity. With programs in New Zealand, Los Angeles and Connecticut already in school systems the KIDS program continues to expand!
About Rod Dixon’s KIDS Marathon –Founded by the 1972 Olympic 1500 Bronze Medalist and 1983 NYC Marathon Champion who competed with legendary runners John Walker, Steve Prefontaine, Kip Keino, Sebastian Coe, Geoff Smith and many others, Rod Dixon’s KIDS Marathon program continues to grow internationally! The KIDSMARATHON ‘in school’ program starts Elementary school KIDs on the pathway of fun,fitness and enjoyment through running, As Dixon himself has said, “It’s a non competitive program connecting an activity towards a healthy foundation in their lives.”This year 25,000 Students in the Los Angeles Unified School District are “in training” for the goal of running 25.2 miles “in school” with 5000 selected from 320 Schools to participate in the 2015 ASICS LA Marathon – KIDSMARATHON Final Mile Celebration @ Dodger Stadium March 8 2015. The Final Mile celebration is wonderfully attended by thousands of family and friends to cheer on the runners.LA KIDSMARATHON programs are developing in the Inland Empire, Chino Hills and Glendora and over 700 of these KIDs will also participate in the Final Mile @ Dodger Stadium. Discussion and talks are progressing for a KIDSMARATHON Portland Maine program and also in the United Kingdom to potentially partner with the Parkrun series!The Connecticut Association of Schools will host over 5000 students “in training” ‘in school’ during the month of April and May with 5 regional Final Mile events celebrating with family and friends.New Zealand has 2 major programs in the regional areas of Nelson and Counties Manakau with over 15,000 KIDs participating each year!
For more information please contact-Rod Dixon’s KIDSMARATHON FoundationPresidents Active Lifestyle Award Advocate“Healthy KIDs – Healthy Schools – Healthy Communities”Los Angeles Office: 818 230 7147Cell: 818 384 3625
