Several young runners showed the fruits of their training as they “gutted-it-out” during relays and running games during the final session of RUN4FUN, held at the Vanier track last Monday night.
This was the fourth season for the junior running development program organized by the Comox Valley Road Runners (CVRR) and held at various great running locations around the Comox Valley. This year’s program had 30 young athletes from 7 to 14 years of age taking part.
The RUN4FUN program focuses on making running fun for all kids. It teaches that they can use running to explore the world and make fitness a part of their everyday lives. Youth ages 7 to 14 met at different running venues around the Comox Valley where they competed in a “Poker Run” at Seal Bay, ran the trails along Nymph Falls and the beaches of Goose Spit.
A new sponsor this year, Booster Juice of Courtenay, provided yummy smoothies to the runners as they learned of the value of making good food choices. They learned about sports injuries and nutrition from Dr. Wayne Crowe and met with Lene Curts, owner of Extreme Runners, to learn the importance of proper running equipment.
At the finale, Nick Blackburn, an up-and-coming runner and a recent recipient of the CVRR Junior Development Grant, motivated the young runners with a pep-talk before the relays got underway. After the relays, awards were handed out to those runners who logged more than a marathon (42km) of training mileage during the course.
Coach Robyn Dicesare said, “Every year I love working with the kids. Their enthusiasm is electric and it’s such a treat to watch them progress during the two months we’re together.”
Look for the RUN4FUN program again next spring after March break. The CVRR would like to thank the sponsors of RUN4FUN: Re/Max Ocean Pacific Realty, Extreme Runners, SwagPromo.com, and Booster Juice of Courtenay. Special thanks to volunteers Mary Bridges, Mary Ann Rolfe, Sandra Rowland, Jim Smiley, Angela Plamondon, Andrea Prager and Coco Elgood. Congratulations to all the participants.
For more info on local running see the CVRR website at www.cvrr.ca.