How do I register my school for Kids' Run Club?
Telephone program coordinator Kerry Copeland at (902) 468-8935 ext. 278 or email: doctorsns.com
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Who can participate in Kids' Run Club?
Kids' Run Club is done mostly in schools and can be tailored for grades primary to 12.
With younger participants, there’s a greater need for more adults to supervise, especially if the group runs off school grounds. Primary to Grade 2 participants may not have the attention span required for longer runs. They should participate in shorter runs (i.e. under 2 k) followed by 15-30 minutes of running games.
Other groups that have participated in Kids' Run Club include sports teams, after-school programs, youth groups and adolescent treatment centers.
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Does Kids' Run Club cost anything?
The club is offered to all schools at no cost. Until 2007, the program was funded-fully by Doctors Nova Scotia. Funding partners were brought on board as the program grew in order to continue providing it at no cost. The program’s two presenting partners are the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, and RBC. The association partner is the Canadian Medical Association.
How many times per week should school groups run together?
Groups are encouraged to run together one to three times a week. In order for participants to see improvement, they will need to run more than once a week. If school groups can’t meet more than once, participants are encouraged to do “homework runs.”
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When do I need to start the program?
The start date and length of program depends on whether you’re training for a specific running event and the distance of that event, the availability of coaches, and how often your group runs together.
The length of the program can range from four weeks to several months. Most schools training for spring fun runs such as the ones at the Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon or Cape Breton Fiddlers Run start their running programs at least eight weeks out from the event.
TopCan our school start a winter program by running in the gym?
Without access to maintained sidewalks, winter conditions can make running outside unsafe. If you want to start early and plan on doing indoor workouts, here are some tips:
- Limit running laps around the gym as it can be boring and hard on the body. Break it up by having the kids run in one direction for five minutes, then change directions and run another five minutes. Don’t run more than 20 minutes indoors.
- Have music playing.
- Look at the coach’s handbook for ideas on running games and circuit training that can be added to running laps.
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Can I still be a Kids' Run Club coach even though I’m not a runner?
Coaches can be walkers, recreational joggers or competitive runners. Great coaches are those who are energetic, enthusiastic and encourage their runners to try hard and have fun. To ensure safety, particularly for elementary groups, including coaches who are able to run with participants is important.
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Is it safe for children to run distances of 4 or 5k?
There's no evidence that distance running is harmful to children and youth. It’s important that kids who take up running don’t overdo it by running too far, too fast or too often. Kids' Run Club participants gradually increase thir running distances over a period of several weeks and months.
Current research on this issue cautions more about the risk of burn-out than physical injury. The more young runners run, the more likely they are to quit or get burned-out as they age. So if you want to keep kids active by running, keep it fun, varied and have definite time-lines or goal events that signify the end of a distance training program.
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How can I get participants who are walking too much to run more?
There are always a few kids in each group who don’t seem to put much effort into running and negatively impact other participants who end up walking with them. Some participants join just for the “freebies” or to be with friends and lack the desire to try hard. The Coach’s Handbook has some motivation tips, which may help to get these kids running more. If it gets to a point where these participants are disruptive to the group, a conversation with them may be required. Otherwise accept that they’re at least moving, albeit slowly, which is more than they might have done if they’d gone home to sit in front of a computer or video games.
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