For an enhanced digital experience, read this story in the ezine.

A unique opportunity to engage families in fun-based fitness 

The kids who run along park paths don’t know they are laying the framework for an active lifestyle. They aren’t thinking about the future impact of a healthy lifestyle on their overall well-being — they just know they’re having fun. Whether they are running through a spray of colorful powder at the Pollinator and Flowers Colorful Fun Run, trotting through the finish line of bubbles at the Bubble-palooza Fun Run, or walking around a patch to pick a favorite pumpkin at the Pumpkin Patch Dash, children and their families are building the foundation for an active lifestyle.

The Centerville-Washington (Ohio) Park District’s Fun Run series arose because we recognized that our community’s youth needed fitness opportunities to get them outdoors and moving with their families in an engaging and interactive way. This new focus on family-based fitness provided us the opportunity to involve parents and guardians, encouraging them to model physically active lifestyles alongside their children. Research shows that when children engage with parents or other important adults who model a healthy, active lifestyle, the likelihood that children also will participate in physical activity increases. 

The Fun Run Formula

In planning our Fun Run series, we used a basic formula to ensure a similar program experience across events. The formula allows for flexibility to change themes, environmental education topics or fitness intensity.

The Fun Run Formula is: Fitness Goal + Families + Fun Things to Do Along the Way = Fun Run. 

Our Fun Runs average one mile in length. As a park district, we incorporate environmental and nature education into our events as often as possible, and the Fun Run series presents an excellent opportunity to merge fitness and nature education. Participants visit stations along the route to learn more about the Fun Run’s environmental topic or they may participate in an activity. Since Fun Runs are structured with a “choose your challenge” model, participants can choose to run the distance, walk the distance, or take a break along the way and visit the optional activity stations. The goal is to show families that being active and moving together is achievable no matter where they are on their fitness journey. Alternating activity stations that are fun for younger participants as well as the older elementary school-aged crowd is important. We want to provide options for everyone. A 100-meter dash for children under 10 years old and a mini-dash for children 2 years old and younger also are included during each event.

Accessibility is another key consideration of the Fun Run series. Fun Runs are scheduled at locations with accessible surfaces, such as pavement or compacted, crushed limestone. We have an annual Adapted Fun Run where we partner with local organizations that run accessible activities. The run is along a shorter, fully paved course. It is offered in the spring when temperatures are cooler and it runs for a longer duration, creating an event well-suited for all abilities. The Anytime Fun Run is a self-guided family-fitness trail, making its debut later this year, that will make a Fun Run event accessible for any family’s schedule. Fun Run events are offered twice per season. The event frequency helps support families as they build habits leading to an active lifestyle.

Enriching the series, Dayton Children’s Hospital sponsors our Fun Run events. Sponsorship opportunities range from covering the cost of the color powder or giveaways to providing t-shirts or an educational booth. Leveraging strategic partnerships in an ongoing series highlights the common community health goals among the organizations.

Want to start a family-based fitness event series at your organization? Consider the following:

• Fitness Goal – What is a reasonable, achievable goal for your participants?
• Location – What locations do you have available for various lengths and fitness challenges? Are these locations accessible?
• Partnerships – Who in the community is available to join you in reaching the goal?
• Fun – Design the event that your inner child would think makes for the best day ever!

Alyssa Schulte is Fitness and Wellness Supervisor at Centerville-Washington (Ohio) Park District.