Chicago Run is a nonprofit organization that provides children and youth from Pre-K through high school with inclusive running and physical activity programs. We empower more than 16,000 young people annually, using running as a catalyst to transform lives, build resilience to stress and trauma, and develop social and emotional skills. We focus programming in under-resourced communities with limited access to physical activity and play.
CHICAGO RUNNERS
The Chicago Runners program is designed to instill the daily habit of running and physical activity during the school day for elementary school students. Each student runs or participates in moderate to vigorous physical activity during PE class or with their classroom teacher for 10-15 minutes a day, three to five times a week. Students earn incentives (i.e. water bottle, notebook, jump rope) as they achieve certain mileage milestones on the virtual marathon website, myCHICAGORUN.org.
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RUNNING MATES
The Running Mates program is designed to prepare middle school and high school aged youth to run in a local 5k or 4 mile race. Participants learn about teamwork, commitment, and perseverance through a curriculum that incorporates running workouts, goal setting, and team-building activities. Running Mates brings students from different schools together for field trips, community service projects, local races, and other celebratory events.
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LACE Up!
LACE (Leadership, Action, Community, Endurance) Up! is a program designed for Chicago Run program alumni who were previously involved in Running Mates and/or Chicago Runners and are now in high school. Participants have the opportunity to build leadership, mentoring, coaching, and career-readiness skills that will aid in their success through high school and beyond. In addition, LACE Up! students will continue their commitment to service and fitness by participating in community volunteer projects and running in local races.
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LITTLE STRIDES
The Little Strides program is designed to instill the importance of daily physical activity in early childhood classrooms. The Little Strides curriculum uses games and activities to excite young children to exercise. These activities also focus on developing vital gross motor skills that students need upon entering elementary school. Students exercise three to five times a week, each time earning a sticker to fill up the exercise sticker board! Filling up a sticker board will earn each student a Chicago run incentive (pencil, water bottle, notebook).
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SUMMER STRIDES
The Summer Strides program is designed to bring community members together to prepare for a local 5K race. Some participants are given the opportunity to take weekly trail run excursions to local forest preserves and exchanges with international fellows visiting Chicago. This program empowers program alumni to serve as coaches to their younger peers while striving to build teamwork, commitment, and perseverance.