For families looking for something to do during the holidays, the Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon has launched a free virtual training for the Kids Fun Run, which is scheduled for March 6, 2021 during the race weekend. Chattanooga Sports and Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon are partnering with Operation Get Active and Hixson Middle School Coach Aaron Wood to provide the training.
The free 10-week program includes entry to the Kids Fun Run, a training booklet with games and activities and weekly workout videos from Coach Wood. Coach Wood is known for his energetic videos, which have garnered tens of thousands of views on YouTube during the pandemic.
“I am blessed to be collaborating with two organizations that highly value kid’s health and their physical fitness,” said Coach Wood. “They value this so much that they are providing the race, workbook, and training videos for free…that is crazy! Close your eyes and imagine going to the Super Bowl, winning a new car, and then kicking the game-winning field goal!”
The program includes 11 videos over YouTube Channel @CoachWood. Each will end with a challenge for families to do together - such as a combo of walk two minutes, run two minutes and sprint one minute for three rounds. Through each weekly challenge completed, participants are one mile closer to completing 26.2 miles or a full marathon. Over the 10-week training, they will have run/walked 25.2 miles and will complete the final mile in the Kids Fun Run on March 6, 2021.
“We are so excited to be a part of this project and work with Chattanooga Sports, Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon Weekend and Coach Wood,” said OGA Director Peter Woolcock. “This is a fantastic initiative for kids to learn, have fun and be physically active over a longer period of time. It all ties nicely into our mission statement of encouraging our community's youth to live healthy and active lifestyles.”
The training borrows OGA’s model of virtual programming, which was created out of necessity during the pandemic to ensure kids were still getting what they needed to stay active at home.
The training program and videos will follow this schedule:
Nov. 30: Welcome
Dec. 14: Week 1
Dec. 28: Week 2
Jan. 11: Week 3
Jan. 18: Week 4
Jan. 25: Week 5
Feb. 1: Week 6
Feb. 8: Week 7
Feb. 15: Week 8
Feb 22: Week 9
March 1: Week 10
March 6: RACE DAY
To view the course, register for the free Kids Fun Run and access the training booklet, visit http://www.chattanoogamarathon.com/event/kids-fun-run.