We Run This City Youth Marathon Program
Nine Forest Park Middle School students and three teachers spent 14 weeks training for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon 10k in May. The students began training in January through the We Run This City Youth Marathon Program (WRTC). This program is a collaboration between the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, the Cleveland Department of Public Health and Case Western Reserve University Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods. Practices were held three-four days a week until race day on May 17th. Students started off slowly alternating running and walking for only a minute. Each week runs increased in length and duration. In April, students stopped running for time and started running for miles during practice, running anywhere from 2-4.5 miles a day. This program not only increased the confidence of our student participants, but also expanded their endurance and physical fitness.
Students: Chenelle Leonard- 8th grade ran the 10k Neo Sims- 8th grade ran the 10k Justin Creary- 7th grade ran the 10k Brandon Haas- 8th grade ran the 10k Deanna Lindsey- 8th grade ran the 10k Hailey Wanton- 8th grade ran the 10k Heaven Womack- 7th grade ran the 10k Alena Zelley- 8th grade ran the 10k Jalen Henderson- 7th grade ran the 1.2 mile Teachers: Rebecca Shamblen- ran the 10k Elizabeth Scheurman- ran the 10k Tiffany Trapp- ran the 10k
The We Run This City Youth Marathon Program (WRTC) is a collaboration between the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, the Cleveland Department of Public Health and Case Western Reserve University Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods.
The 14-week program strives to teach young people to set and achieve goals by preparing them to run in the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.
But crossing the finish line is just the beginning! Students leave the program with greater self-confidence and increased levels of fitness and endurance.