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Boston Marathon Kids' Event, April 17, 2004 Coach Ed, Girl Runner, Grete Waitz Photos by Carol Goodrow
Once each year, Boylston Street becomes lined with children who come to Boston two days before the Boston Marathon to cross the same finish line as the adult runners. They leave their team shirts at home and dress in red, white, and blue B.A.A. Relay Challenge shirts. Their team affiliations are printed on their "running bibs". Area coaches and adidas elite athletes are on hand to guide and encourage young runners as they participate in the the annual adidas/B.A.A Relay Challenge. This year, was the 8th annual event, named the "Club 108 Relay Challenge" for the 108th running of the Boston Marathon. Approximately 800 children attended. Our own Coach Ed, was there guiding and cheering his runners on. The children have gone through a 4 hour (1-hour-per-week) blitz-training course for this event. They learned about teamwork, goal setting, and motivation. They also received training logs to track their progress as they trained for the Relay Challenge. Elite athletes who were to be on hand included: Grete Waitz, 9-time winner of the New York City Marathon, 1978-88 Alan Culpepper, winner of the 2004 Men's Olympic Marathon Trials Carrie Tollefson, A 5-time NCAA champion at Villanova, (300m, 5000m) Jen Rhines, 2002 USA 10,000m champion Tim Broe, 2003 U.S. 5,000m champion David Krummenacher, 2003 World Indoor 800m champion Todd Williams, 1993 U.S.A. 10,000m champion Amy Rudolf, one time American record holder 500m Cheri Kenah, 5-time U.S. Indoor 3000m runner-up ![]() Boy Runner and David Krummenacker For more information on the adidas/B.A.A. program please contact Kelly Middal: cell 503.475.8788/Kelly.Middal@adidasus.com Vicki Wilson: 1.800.761.3944/cell: 315.794.2382/vwilson@romanelli.com ![]() |