YMCA Running Program Successful With Almost 140 Runners (09/25/16)

(By Michelle Murray)

(All photos submitted by Clarion County YMCA)

(All photos submitted by Clarion County YMCA)

After seeing the Healthy Kids Running Series in another town earlier this year, Jesse Kelley could not wait to bring the program to Clarion. Kelley, Director of the Clarion County YMCA had been considering adding a cross country running program for youth and wanted it to have an element of excitement for all ages.

The Healthy Kids Running Series is a five week cross country program for kids to get them excited about running. Races take place once a week on Sundays. Kids earn points for finishing the race and at the end of the series the top boy and girl in each age category will receive a trophy.

Healthy Kids Running Series began Sunday at the Clarion County Park. The Clarion County YMCA is hosting the program through October 16.

Runners from preschool through eighth grade from Clarion County and other nearby areas participated in the race. Distances range from 50 yards for pre-school to one mile for middle school students.

ymca-2016-4The next race in the series will be held on September 25th at 4:30 pm. The series will continue for four more weeks.
Registration for the series is located at www.healthykidsrunningseries.org. Runners are also able to pay $10 by the race on race day. Anyone registering on race day must arrive 30-45 minutes early.
For more information, please contact Jesse Kelley, race coordinator, at jkelley@clarionymca.net.

ymca-2016-3For more information about the Clarion County YMCA and Y programs, please visit the YMCA web site at www.clarioncountyymca.org, call 814-764-3400 and follow the Y on Facebook.

The Clarion County YMCA hours are: Weekdays 5 am – 8 pm and Saturdays from 7 am –2 pm. The YMCA is now open Sundays from 9 am – 2pm.

(Thanks to Michelle Murray for this article and to the YMCA for the photos.)