The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Kids Run is expanding its Fittest School Challenge to encourage greater participation among youth in East Tennessee. In addition to Knox County, the challenge is now open to elementary schools in Loudon, Anderson, Sevier, Roane and Blount counties.
The Fittest School Challenge is a friendly competition among elementary schools to promote healthy physical activities and get kids excited about exercising.
Children age 12 and younger can participate. Schools register for the competition and provide a total student body count. The top school in each county with the highest percentage of student participation at the March 27 Covenant Kids Run will win the title of Fittest School. Each of the six winning schools will receive a $250 gift card to be used toward the purchase of athletic equipment. The prizes are sponsored by Tennessee State Health Plan.
The Covenant Kids Run is open to both students participating in the Fittest School Challenge as well as all children age 12 and under participating individually. The Covenant Kids Run is designed to encourage East Tennessee youth to take part in a winter fitness journey that culminates with an exciting and rewarding finish.
“We make the program fun because we want to encourage the good habit of regular exercise at an early age,” said Beth LaFontaine, community health coordinator at Covenant Health. “The Kids Run provides children with a way to be part of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, which we hope will inspire them to lead healthy lifestyles.”
In a challenge to complete a full 26.2-mile marathon over the time leading up to the Covenant Kids Run on March 27, each participating child receives a log book to track their miles toward the goal. On race day, the children complete their last mile together, finishing on the 50-yard-line at Neyland Stadium, just like the elite athletes do in the marathon on the following day.
The registration fee for the Covenant Kids Run is $18 per child. To register a child for the Covenant Kids Run, visit http://www.knoxvillemarathon.com. To register a school for the Fittest School Challenge, contact Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Race Director Jason Altman at 865-684-4294 or jason@knoxvillemarathon.com. Tools and resources for parents and teachers are available at http://www.covenanthealth.com/fittestschool or by calling Covenant Health at 865-541-4500.

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.