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Date: 4/27/2022
SOUTHWICK — The Healthy Kids Running Series returned to Southwick on April 24, as dozens of kids took to the regional school campus to compete in races and promote fitness in youth.
Running Series Coordinator Andi DeSanto said that more than 100 kids ran during the event, which was the first in a series of five. The remaining four events in Southwick will take place each Sunday through May 22 at 3 p.m. Registration for each race is $10.
DeSanto said that the nonprofit has expanded greatly in just the last few years. She joined as a coordinator in 2018, and at the time there were only about 30 coordinators across the country. Now, she said, there are 300.
“We had 300 races across the country today,” said DeSanto on April 24.
The Healthy Kids Running Series was started in 2009 by Jeff Long with the mission of combating childhood obesity. The five-week series is for kids 2-14 years of age. Each age bracket runs a different type of race, with a greater distance for the older kids. Kids 2-3 years of age run a 50-yard dash, kids 4-5 years of age and first graders run a quarter mile, Grades 2-3 run a half mile, and fourth graders and older run a full mile.
DeSanto said that after the final week, all participants get a medal, and the top runners for each race win a trophy.