The Trumbull PTSA Council’s Health and Wellness Committee is hosting Rod Dixon’s Kid’s Marathon Final Mile Event at the Trumbull High School track and athletic fields on Sunday, May 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
All six Trumbull Elementary Schools with up to 600 children will be participating.
Rod Dixon, the founder of the program, will be attending. He is a 1972 Olympic medalist from New Zealand and the 1983 NYC Marathon winner. He finished his NYC Marathon, and hours after his epic win he realized that the back of the pack were winners as well. He founded Rod Dixon’s Kid’s Marathon to encourage health and fitness in children. His motto for the program is, “Finishing is Winning and Winning is Finishing.” It is a program that began in California and has gained popularity in Connecticut.
Each year the CT Association of Schools has an increasing number of state districts instituting the program. This year there are nine Final Mile Events being held throughout the state, all due to Dixon’s passion and enthusiasm.
RDKM is a way for kids to become marathoners. It is an in-school program, in which children commit to running or walking short distances at recess. The distances of half mile to one mile four days per week add up over 10 weeks to 25 miles.
The children then celebrate their commitment and accomplishment by running their final mile in front of all their biggest fans on the Trumbull High School track.
“I read about RDKM in an article in 2010,” said Cathleen Kosak, the PTSA Council second vice president. “As a mom of three, an active member of the PTA, and a lifelong runner I was inspired.
“I introduced the idea to Daniels Farm Elementary School in 2013, and was beyond thrilled to have over two hundred enthusiastic and dedicated children sign up for the program. DFS attended their first Final Mile Event that year as guests in Danbury. I knew right away that Trumbull just had to do this.
“I was happy to make connections with the other schools in Trumbull in order to get their students up and running last year. With the support of Trumbull’s PTSA Council, the approval of Trumbull High Athletic Director Mike King, as well as tireless parent volunteers, Trumbull hosted its very first Kid’s Marathon Final Mile Event on May 31, 2015.
“The day was a tremendous success due to special guests like Storm from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Stormin’ Norman from WEBE 108, the Hillcrest Middle School Band, led by Tom Whitmoyer, dedicated volunteers from the Trumbull High girls track team and hard-working PTA parents.
“Trumbull’s PTSA Council Health and Wellness Committee is proud to offer this program to our young children in Trumbull. These students are positive role models by showing people both young and old to create big goals, persevere, and make healthy choices.”