Big Sur Marathon – JUST RUN Receives Highest Marks Ever for Annual Growth

Final grades are in for the 2013-14 school year and JUST RUN, the Big Sur International Marathon’s youth fitness program has received straight A’s for program growth.

Now in its 10th year, the number of students participating in JUST RUN topped 17,800, a 406% increase from its first full year in 2005-06 and 56% growth over last year’s total participants.  Representing 140 schools in 15 states, 52 of which are in Monterey County, more than 388,500 miles were logged this year.  Twenty-two of the classes earned certificates of congratulations for virtually “running across the USA” which is a main feature of the program.        

“This year far outpaces any other,” said Susan Love, JUST RUN program director. “We’re making a positive impact in the lives of so many children.”

Love attributes part of the program’s growth to an increase of schools from Santa Clara County where 17 schools participated in the program.  An additional 71 schools from around the country are also a part of JUST RUN, including schools in three “satellite” JUST RUN programs operating in Ohio, New York, and Florida.

Katelyn Coan, a health educator at the Lake County, OH General Health District, noted that their program’s enrollment has nearly doubled compared to a year ago. In 2014, 1,466 students participated, up from 765 in 2013.

“I think it’s working extremely well because it’s unique and every school can run the program as they see fit for their environment,” Coan said. “The program is flexible and some schools decided to conduct the program during physical education classes while others had students run before or after school and some on the weekends.”

Another leader, Mary Pound from Bishop School in Sunnyvale, stated, “This is one of the best years I have ever had in teaching, and I attribute it much to your program! Thanks for all you have done this year to help my class achieve all the academic, self-esteem, and physical strength that they have acquired.”

JUST RUN is a free, website-based, fitness program focused on running, healthy eating (Just Taste) and good citizenship (Just Deeds).  Incentives are provided to students as they achieve mileage milestones and goals races are available or encouraged for the children.  In Monterey County, students in the program have access to the Big Sur Marathon’s kids 3K races held in conjunction with the April marathon and November half marathon.

On August 15th, all schools and individual participant names and mileage totals are deleted, in preparation for the new school year.  Schools and youth organizations throughout the country are invited to register and participate at anytime. The program will begin again on August 1, 2014. 

For more information on the JUST RUN program, visit www.justrun.org or contact Susan Love, susan@bsim.org or 831-625-6226.

Julie Armstrong