1. Home
2. News

Fun Run helps families take many steps in the right direction

By Cristobal Martinez on Saturday, November 7, 2009

Address: Washington Park, 5531 S Martin Luther King Dr., Chicago, IL 60637

The thousands of people gathered at Chicago’s Washington Park on November 7th observed an athletic spectacle. No, it was not the Olympic opening ceremonies that Chicago had hoped for, but it certainly had an Olympic spirit. Over 6,000 Chicago Public School children and their families took part in Chicago Run’s One Mile Fun Run/Walk.

Kids from thirty Chicago Public Schools streamed into the park from yellow school busses, ready to show the progress they had made since they began training at the start of the school year. Students from schools such as CICS Bucktown, Columbia Explorers Academy and Jordan Elementary all had competitive looks in their eyes and were eager to hear which schools had run the most miles throughout the fall season.

But before the students were able to add one more mile to their totals, Chicago Run’s Executive Director Alicia Gonzalez led a stretch exercise to loosen up everybody’s muscles. Gonzalez wasn’t the only one involved in the stretching; Chicago Park District Commissioner Bob Pickens Bill Scherr were on hand doing their part to promote healthy living. Pickens wrestled in the 1964 Olympics and Scherr was a bronze medalist in the 1988 Olympics. Scherr understands that Chicago Run is teaching students about more than just running. “Sure, running is the main focus of this event, but what Alicia and her team are teaching the youngsters are good habits. Developing good habits like eating healthy and keeping active are important—especially at a young age.” Commissioner Pickens agrees that forming healthy habits in youth will pay dividends. “Starting out young and carrying out healthy living to your later life will ultimately have positive results when you’re older, so why not encourage the students to be active!”

The C.E.O. of Chicago Public Schools, Ron Huberman, also came out to support the students. He sounded the horn to kick off the race and congratulated runners and walkers at the finish line. Huberman also spoke to the students and their families, stressing that the involvement by relatives is key to keeping children healthy and out of trouble. “Chicago Run’s program positively engages young people. Anytime you can engage youth with something positive, they’re more likely to stay out of harm’s way and lead positive lives.”

Since their start in 2007, Chicago Run has always served communities where violence was a threat, and Huberman has noticed their impact. “With the ridiculous amount of violence that has plagued our students in the past few years; having a program like Chicago Run come into underserved communities is certainly a step in the right direction in keeping our children safe.”

Chicago Run engages students throughout the school year, but the Fun Run allowed whole families to connect with their mission. Allen Dent, Jr., uncle of CPS student Jamiah Richardson, was impressed. “Before showing up to Washington Park, I did not realize how organized and how huge this event was. What shocked me even more was how prepared all of the participants were. Many of the students, including my niece, showed me how to properly prepare for a quick jog!”

Chicago Run’s goal was to make the Fun Run feel like a real race for the students; it also helped everyone reach closer their goal of running 26.2 miles—the distance of a marathon—before winter break. Chicago does not have to wait until 2016 for something memorable to happen in Washington Park—it already has.