A mass of children helped the sixth annual Mill Race Marathon weekend kick off in record-setting style.
At least 1,400 were in pursuit of the finish line Friday evening during the annual Kids Fun Run in Mill Race Park, setting a participation record for the event, now in its sixth year, race organizers said.
The Fun Run brought 8-year-old Coltin Heddens and his 4-year-old brother Connor, who was participating for the first time. The siblings had plenty of support from their parents, Lisa and Jason Heddens, as they surrounded hundreds of people who gathered in the park.
Lisa Heddens said the event allows her older son an opportunity to do something in the community and was a good way for him to stay active.
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“All the kids really enjoy it,” she said.
Coltin said he enjoyed being able to run, saying he enjoys that activity, in addition to climbing and jumping to stay active.
Jason Heddens said the Fun Run was an opportunity for the couple to get out and meet people in the community. But seeing their children have fun was more important, he added.
“I love to see them do something they love to do and see something that makes them happy,” he said.
Parent Elizabeth Bays was preparing to watch her son Andy, a third-grader at Columbus Signature Academy — Lincoln Campus, participate in his respective age group, and said she enjoys the fact the Fun Run isn’t competitive.
“I think it’s a great idea to get them out there and try running,” Bays said. “It celebrates being active.”
Children were divided into six different categories during the Fun Run: tots, prekindergarten and kindergarten with parents, prekindergarten and kindergarten without parents, first and second grades, third and fourth grades, and fifth and sixth grades.
Parents and other family members cheered on their children as they made their way around the course, snapping photos with their cellphones before going across Mill Race Park toward the designated finish line area. Children received bananas, a drink and a medal upon crossing the finish line in their respective races.
Cooler weather likely contributed to the record-setting number of participants this year, said Randy Stafford, who helped organize the event. Race organizers had 150 to 200 kids register each day this week leading up to the race, while more than 300 registered Friday evening, he added.
“Our goal is to try to get as many kids here as possible,” Stafford said.
In 2017, 1,235 children participated in the Fun Run, although the heat kept many individuals away who had initially signed up, Stafford said.
Stafford said he enjoys being able to get kids active through the event, which is meant to be a social activity.
Parent Kate Corney was all smiles as she prepared to watch her 11-year-old daughter Amelia take off during the fifth-sixth grade division.
“I just like the community spirit,” Corney said. “It’s a nice way to meet neighbors and meet new friends.”
For 10-year-old Colin Totten, a fifth-grader at Southside Elementary School, it was his first year participating in the Fun Run. He was joined by his 7-year-old brother Eoin, a second-grader at Southside.
For them, it was a chance to be outside, exercise and have fun.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”By the numbers” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
1,400: Estimated number of children who participated in the 2018 Kids Fun Run
1,235: Number of children who crossed the finish line in 2017
6: Number of years the event has been held
6: Number of overall categories children were divided into within their respective races
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