Dear Carol,
I am trying to start a booster club for the Central Middle School Cross Country team in Murfreesboro, TN. We want to use a Halloween themed run to help raise money for the Cross Country Program which has been dormant for the last several years. We are trying to establish a yearly run that will not only raise money, but bring running to the younger kids in the community.

We hope to bring the serious runners in with a 5k, and then let the kids (all ages, even adult "kids") enter a "fun run" with tricks and treats along the way. My problem is getting started.

Our problem is that none of the parents have ever organized a 5K or a fun run and we aren't quite sure where to begin. Do you have any advice that you can give to us to help us get on our way?

Any advice you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Dear Elyse,
We had exactly the same situation at our school last year. Our 5k and kids' fun runs were set up by first timers.

1. We went to a PTO meeting and solicited help. We showed a Children's Running Video from the RRCA.

2. Committees were formed for obtaining sponsorship, etc.

3. We met and chose the town park , named the race (Cider Mill 5K), hired a timing company for the 5k, planned the food, and decided on the distances of the fun runs. They were age graded distances from 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m by grades k-4.

4. We enlisted the help of the PE teachers to lead an aeorbic warm up for kids the day of the event.

We also had a mile XC run.

You just need lots of help...lots of parents and kids and permission from the police as well as some paid police the day of. Someone makes the race applications. Also apply to Runner's World Race Sponsorship programto see if you can obtain free running nos. Write to bart.yasso@rodale.com

T-shirts! Design one yourself, have a kids' contest for a design, or see if someone knows a graphic designer who will donate their time and create a professional design. Order medals or ribbons for all the kids who enter the fun run. Also order trophies for the 5k and make sure the people know how to award prizes to the top winners and age group categories. Find out if your school will 'insure' this event.

DECORATE for Halloween. How fun! Anything else? Write back and ask!

Note from the kid's editor:

There is nothing like an event to celebrate running.

Do you have any questions about a child's running program? Feel free to email the kid's editor at carol.kids@rodale.com.