CHIPMUNK CHASE by Carol Goodrow Chipmunk Chase A family fun run is an essential part of any school running program. It's the highlight of the season; very easy and fun. Oftentimes, it's the first introduction to a running event that the kids and parents will have so start out easy - and keep it low-keyed.             -cng/KR Editor Here's all you need to do. GET READY 1. Plan your course. We are fortunate to be able to use 1-K trail built on the grounds of CNC Software. It's safe, clearly marked and is a combination of open field and woodsy trail. 2. Hand out notices more than once. Prepare them a month before, then have enough available to pass out at every club session. Parents are often inundated with paperwork from schools. They lose notices, and don't always read them as thoroughly as you'd think, so don't assume that they know about the fun run from one notice. 3. Have an incentive for attending the fun run. Our children were allowed to color in a striped footprint for attending. When their footprint chart is complete, they will earn their Official Happy Feet Kid ribbon. Kids love coloring in footprint charts. Most footprints on this chart are to be colored in with solid colors, so getting to make a "striped" footprint can be very exciting for a child. 4. Send out special invitations to the school faculty. Ask them to come and run/walk with their kids. 5. Find a sponsor to purchase medals. Bring your old medals and let everyone choose the medal of their choice after they run. DAY OF THE FUN RUN 1. Get there early! Run the course before the families arrive. 2. Put the medals out on the tables. Water, too. Having a "do-it-yourself" medal and water table, allows the parents to exercise with their kids. This is much more fun than having parents volunteer while children run. It also gives the message that exercise is for both adults and children. 3. Encourage the kids to jump, hop, and jog around to stay warm when they arrive. 4. Start the fun run 10 minutes later than announced so that the late-comers can be part of the fun run. Remember, your club members are new to the running world. They might not understand that a starting time of 9:00 means a "running time" of 9:00. 5. Gather everyone around and sing your club song. We sang this verse and all the parents clapped. A strawberry for you. A carrot for me. Bright yellow sun. Green trees to see. Deep blue skies. A violet flower. Rainbow treasures surround the hour. Read and write, run and eat. You'll just love, Happy Feet! 6. Give your pep talk. Ask everyone to remember to say, "Goodbye" to you before they head home. Let them know that they can run one lap of the course (1-K) or they can go around more times. Make sure to let your little runners know the "medal rules" one medal no matter how many laps they run or a medal for every lap - whichever works for your group. 7. PRAISE and THANK all of the parents for coming to exercise with their children. Remind everyone to start out easy. Or better yet, sing another verse! Wake Mom up early. Get Dad up, too. They're going to do the fun run with you. Start out easy. Pick up the pace. Earn your medal at the Chipmunk Chase. Read and write, run and eat. You'll just love, Happy Feet! 8. If you have a narrow path to run on, start the fun run by tapping the first few runners, and then stand by the side and greet each runner as they start. Make sure that you are the last runner to start the fun run. Then you can have fun talking to many runners as you pass them. 9. When you arrive at the finish, take family photos. 10. Email each family their "fun run family photo". - Other ideas we've used over the years: - Kid-made fun run signs - Kid designed running numbers and certificates - Journal writing at the fun run Happy Feet Song Open up your treasure chest. Find something sweet. Fruits and veggies at Happy Feet. (Refrain) Read and write, run and eat. You'll just love, Happy Feet! Lace up your sneakers go out for a run. Fields and trails are miles of fun. Jog down a path, jump off the rocks. Slip in a puddle. Get mud in your socks. It's journal writing time. Let your thoughts flow. Think about your laps, going fast and slow. Just relax. Each word is a tool. Don't worry about your spelling. It's cool. Think about tomorrow. What's to munch? You need a fruit and veggie for a Happy Feet Lunch. Low-fat cheese and real lean meat. Put it all together on a slice of whole wheat. Wake Mom up early. Get Dad up, too. They're going to do the fun run with you. Start out easy. Pick up the pace. Earn your medal at the Chipmunk Chase. A strawberry for you. A carrot for me. Bright yellow sun. Green trees to see. Deep blue skies. A violet flower. Rainbow treasures surround the hour. Family Happy Feet Kids' Club EMAIL Carol Goodrow: carolgoodrow@verizon.net KIDSRUNNING.COM PRIVACY POLICY