New York students up and running
NEW YORK (AP) — Khalil Colon was sweaty but smiling after 25 jumping jacks and 20 laps around the school gym. A year ago, the 9-year-old said, running made him feel “like I’m about to drop on the middle of the floor.”
Fourth graders Ralick Wiggins, left, and Khalil Colon jump rope during P.E. class.
“But now I can run 20 laps and I’m not even tired,” said Khalil.
Twenty laps is the magic number because it is a mile. Khalil is one of 20,000 New York City schoolchildren enrolled in the Mighty Milers, a program run by the New York Road Runners Foundation that aims to get kids up and running.
The program, which targets childhood obesity, is in more than 100 New York City schools plus 20 schools in other states and 20 in Cape Town, South Africa, where a non-governmental organization became interested.
The children earn prizes like medals and certificates each time they notch 26 miles (42 kilometers) — a marathon — and they can track their progress on personal Web pages.
The running club is best known for putting on the New York City Marathon, which draws world-class runners and hobbyists alike on the annual race through the five boroughs. But foundation Executive Director Cliff Sperber said the purpose of the Mighty Milers is not to raise a new generation of marathoners.
Add to Google
