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Program facts:
Click HERE to register.
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Any kids that cannot
attend
the
first day can arrange an alternative time to meet to be evaluated for a
group. There will be a $10 charge for these kids.
Kids
that show up on the first day but are not pre-registered by 6/14 will
be charged $5 to register onsite. All money
collected will be allocated toward running/timing
equipment.
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The program will target the Damascus Freedom 5K to
be held on 9/9/23 at Damascus Regional Park, however registration for
this race is not a requirement.
- It will
include a challenging, age appropriate conditioning
component provided at MMA
& Sport on Fridays that will complement the
conditioning
that will be gained on run days.
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Subsequent run sessions will be held on
Mondays and Thursdays at 6:00 pm or a little later depending on the
group assignment,
conditioning will be on
Fridays at
6:00.
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This program will require community support. If you
are able to help out, please let me know. We can't go it alone!
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I will ask parents on a rotating basis to supply
popsicles to all the younger kids at the end of their session. Schedule
TBD.
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Each child must have a responsible adult present to
sign a waiver prior to beginning their first session. Please be patient
on the first day as we go through the initial waiver process. We don't
want this to be time consuming
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The overriding goal of this program is to give kids
an opportunity to work and as a result of that work find something they
didn't think they had. We hope they will register for the 5K, something
many younger kids normally wouldn't consider possible. Of course with
some work, we know it is. Confidence built through achievement is a
good thing.
This program was inspired by a group of mostly 5/6 year
olds who in 2013 started running a little at each baseball
practice and had
great and unexpected results. The first summer we learned that kids as
young
as four are extremely capable. TWO of the
four year olds with no prior running experience ran a 5K without
stopping by the end of the summer. In our second
year two of the
kids that completed the 5K were three years old!
In 2015 two new four year olds trained during the summer and
completed the 5K. In 2016 two new three year olds completed
the
5K. In 2017, over 30 kids from the program completed the 5K.
In 2019 two more 4 year olds and nearly 40 other kids of
all
ages completed the 5K without stopping. Another batch of 3/4
year olds as well as lots kids of all ages completed the 5K in 2020.
Over 60 kids completed the 5K in 2021. Another 50
completed it in 2022 including two 4 year olds. We are
realizing that
kids can make
spectacular gains. If you have any questions, please contact me at damascusfreedom5k@gmail.com.
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