Kids races

If you were at this year’s Iroquois Trail Test 32K, you might have had the opportunity to witness another successful Kids Quiz Run.   Nearly twenty future cross-country standouts and Boston qualifiers took part.  Led by Co-race director Geoff Sheppard, the young athletes were put through a short calisthenics routine, some stretches then escorted to various spots on the trail and instructed to run to the finish line.   All runners received their own numbered bib, a fake tattoo, a grab-bag of Dollar Store goodies, a Popsicle and a painted finisher’s rock.  Cost to participate:  FREE!!

This leads me to question the fee charged at other kids’ events.  Organizers of such events need to ask themselves:  What is the purpose of the kids run?  If the goal is to encourage youngsters to be active and invite members of the community to get involved with their club or association, then is a fee really necessary?   Many of these events charge a fee of $10 for a 1Km run, akin to paying over $400 for a marathon.  It appears to me that the kids’ runs are quite simply a cash grab.  I hope this is not the case and that clubs would not be using these young legs as a means to improve the bottom line.   Would anyone be willing to pay $400 to run a marathon?  “Highway robbery” would be the cry.

In my opinion, the kids run should continue, but the fee should be dropped.  Most races usually generate enough income to cover their costs.  If the profit is compromised for the sake of having a free event for the kids, so be it.  The club could encourage participants of the kids run to give a donation instead of charging a fee.  If a parent chooses to drop a twenty dollar bill in the donation jar, great!  If someone gives a handful of nickels and dimes, that’s fine too.  If another wants to take advantage of a freebie because their partner has already paid the entry fee for the main running event and dragged the entire family out of bed on their day off, that should be acceptable as well.

Let minor hockey and soccer collect registration fees for participating in their leagues.  Running clubs should teach the children, and their parents, the importance of running for the sheer joy it brings.  If they develop a passion for this wonderful sport, they will have the opportunity to pay registration fees during their entire adult life.

Unfortunately, my own RD responsibilities forced me to miss the Kids Quiz, but pictures revealed dozens of smiling faces and my grandson talked about his race for days following the event.  Isn’t that what a kids run should be about?