Healthy Kids Fun Run

The Marine Corps Marathon Healthy Kids Fun Run will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2013 in the Pentagon North Parking Lot. Nearly 3,600 children ages 5-12 will participate in the one-mile just-for-fun event. All participants receive a t-shirt, medal and snacks at the finish line. The Kids Run hosts six separate starting times.  An individual young runner's designated wave is indicated on the official participant bib as noted by color, start time and bib number.  Registration opens April 17, 2013.

Parking is available at Hayes Street parking lot located at the intersection of Joyce Street and Army/Navy Drive in front of Macy's. The Pentagon Metro Station (blue/yellow lines) provides the easiest access to the Healthy Kids Fun Run. Shuttle services are available to and from the Hayes Street parking lot and the Pentagon Metro Station (blue/yellow lines) to the Healthy Kids Fun Run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

MASCOTS
Kids of all ages will love meeting the amazing menagerie of mascots at the Healthy Kids Fun Run. Miles and Molly welcome: Sammy the Sea Otter from Navy Federal, Lift Off from Sodexo, the Geico Gecko, the George Mason Cheerleaders, Sip, Dip and Milk from My Cookie Dipper Co., Smokey Bear, Jack the Bulldog from Georgetown University, and Archie the Eagle from Quantico Eagle Eyes.

An impressive 30,914 runners around the world logged 100 meters between Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Healthy Kids Fun Run. Additionally, 16,407 shoes were sent in to be recycled including pairs from notable personalities Taylor Swift, One Direction band members, Danica Patrick, Eli Manning and Amanda Beard. All shoes collected will be recycled into material used in athletic surfaces such as basketball courts and running tracks.

MCM mascot Miles the Bulldog attended a Guinness World Record ceremony held at the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, DC on Feb. 5 with National Geographic Kids staff members and Guinness World Record adjudicator Mike Janela. Miles contributed to the certification of the record by signing his name as an independent witness to the feat.

Prior to the ceremony, Miles and local Kids Run participants were featured in a segment on Fox News 5 with Holly Morris. The children recreated their 100 meter dash in celebration of the record announcement, with Miles cheering them on. Kids Run participant Kaya Dengel, 6, of Washington, DC, was excited to be part of the festivities and shared why he enjoyed taking part in the Kids Run and contributing to the world record.

“You get so proud of yourself after you run,” he says.

The Healthy Kids Fun Run is held annually one day prior to the MCM in the Pentagon North Parking Lot. 3,600 kids registered for the Kids Run in 2012, joining runners in Canada, Spain, South Africa, Trinidad, India, Kuwait and Germany to set the new record. The previous record of 4,531 individuals running 100 meters in 24 hours was set in Italy in June of 2011.

“One of the missions of the Marine Corps Marathon is to promote physical fitness in the community,” says MCM Director Rick Nealis. “The Healthy Kids Fun Run is a way for the MCM to extend that message to kids. The partnership with National Geographic Kids and resulting Guinness World Record reinforces how fun and exciting running can be.”