Participation in O.C. Marathon’s “Kids Run the O.C.” Skyrockets to 6500; Innovative Program Burns 12 Million Calories, Fights Childhood Obesity on Saturday, May 3, 2014
Newport Beach, California (PRWEB) April 10, 2014 -- The innovative “Kids Run the OC Presented by Nutrilite” obesity prevention program is poised to reach stratospheric heights in 2014 with a record 6500 kids and 80-plus locations participating. More than 17,500 elementary students have completed the program, logging the equivalent of one half million miles since its inception in 2004. This pioneering approach to healthy activity, by far the largest of its kind in the state, will directly account for burning more than 12 million calories over the next several months.
Held on Saturday, May 3 in conjunction with the 10th Annual U.S. Bank OC Marathon at the OC Fair and Event Center, the Kids Run the OC program is designed to help pre-adolescent kids become more physically fit. With support from the OC Marathon Foundation and the Orange County Department of Education, KROC promotes an active and healthy lifestyle and combats the onset of childhood obesity, all while having fun! The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Detailed information is available at http://www.kidsruntheoc.org.
This is the sixth consecutive year of dramatic growth among schools and students, spurred in large part by a vital partnership with the Orange County Department of Education for outreach and training program development, and the OC Marathon Foundation whose mission has been to nurture and support KROC. Since this relationship was forged in 2010, more than 350 coaches have been trained at no cost and each school receives a comprehensive manual. Steadily building momentum, KROC student participation has increased by 216 percent over the past four years.
“The all-encompassing KROC system focuses on goal setting and behavior modification to increase physical activity and improve eating habits, said Kids Run the OC director Angie Rowe. “This is vitally important since approximately 90 percent of the public elementary schools in Orange County don’t have organized physical education activities due to budget cuts. KROC helps teachers/schools meet the “California Core” standard of 100 minutes of weekly activity requirement and, in some cases, is being adopted as a school-wide curriculum.”
Students are led through a popular training program by 150 teachers, principals and/or volunteer coaches that have received training by the OC Marathon Foundation. By the end of the program each student will have accumulated the equivalent of 25.2 miles of fun activity, and is ready to finish their marathon by completing the final mile at the Kids Run the OC. A finish line festival with tons of family-friendly activities caps off the KROC experience.
Kids Run the OC – By the Numbers
• Approximately 90% of public elementary schools in Orange County don’t have organized P.E. activities
• 12 million calories burned based on 6500 kids running the equivalent of 26.2 miles
• 82 locations and 6500 kids (up from 64 and 4500 in ’12); two programs exceed 300 kids while 11 exceed 100
• 17,500 KROC participants since 2004 (year of inception)
• 150 teachers, principals and/or volunteer coaches; more than 350 trained since 2010
• More than 500,000 miles logged (2009 to 2013); 170,000-plus anticipated in 2014
• 50% of OC kids in public schools live in poverty; 40% of low income kids are obese
• Obese kids are the #1 target of bullies; 1 in 3 low income girls are diabetic by age 30
• 13 programs will exceed 100 kids, also a KROC participation record
• KROC is a leading program of its type in the state of California, second only to Los Angeles according to Running USA’s 2012 Annual Report
The 10th U.S. Bank OC Marathon will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2014. More than 22,000 runners will participate in the marathon, half marathon, Wahoo’s OC 5K and Kids Run the OC. Additionally, thousands of spectators line the course and the start line in front of the Newport Beach Marriott and finish line at OC Fair and Event Center, while an additional 30,000 attend the two-day Allergan Health & Fitness Expo which showcases national brands and state of the art footwear and training technology. Visit http://www.ocmarathon.com for more information.
A detailed list of schools, practice time, broadcast quality video footage and high resolution photographs are available upon request.
Press Contacts:
Mike Kingsbury, Jennifer Hernandez, Cortney Long
mike(at)teammkm(dot)com, Jennifer(at)teammkm(dot)com, Cortney(at)teammkm(dot)com
MKM, (714) 375-2188
Michael Kingsbury, MKM, http://www.teammkm.com, +1 714-375-2188, [email protected]
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