Rapides Junior Runners is a kids' running club that was started in 2002
by a group of runners in the Alexandria / Pineville, Louisiana area called
the Rapides Runners. The club has been extremely successful in
exposing kids to the sport of running and has grown to have over one
thousand participants, which makes us one of the largest kids' running
clubs in the nation. It's a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon
with your family and friends.
Every year, starting in the fall and ending in the spring, we have five
races (one per month) at different locations around the Alexandria /
Pineville area. The races have a festive atmosphere with a DJ providing
music as well as guidance to the racers, such as what ages are racing
next and where warm-ups will be held.
Every race, the 2 milers (ages 10-14, both boys and girls) race first. The
1 milers (ages 6-9) will start after the 2 milers all finish. The 1 milers are
usually broken up into two races, the 6 and 7 year olds (both boys and
girls) together and then the 8 and 9 year olds (both boys and girls)
together. The 5 and under crew are last for the 1/2 mile. We have added
a walking category for 2007-08. They will walk the 1/2 mile course right
after the 5 and under crew. Every finisher gets a finish medal hung
around the neck and can refresh themselves with a snack and drink while
volunteers tally race results. At the awards ceremony, a first, second and
third place custom medal is awarded to the top three finishers, both boy
and girl, in every age category. For example, the six year old girls will
only compete against other six year old girls even though they are running
with all 6 and 7 year olds in the race. Our computer timing system,
finish-line barcode scanning (new in the 2006-2007 season) and
computer software allow us to separate out the finishers into the correct
age categories. At the last awards ceremony, a special prize is given to
those who have run all five races. We also award a total of one thousand
dollars to the top three participating schools' P.E. departments.
We also have started a community outreach to help put tracks in at
schools that don't have one. Hopefully, this will encourage
running/walking in the PE departments of all the schools of Rapides
Parish.
Above all, we try to stress health and happy running. We want children to
improve their level of fitness by training between runs with their families.
If the kids can see they have improved their time from race to race, it'll be
easier for them to say, "Catch me if you can!"