Running series promotes healthy lifestyles for kids

HAYS COUNTY — Kids are encouraged to “Get Up and Go” with a five-week running program beginning this weekend in Hays County.

Healthy Kids Running Series Buda-Kyle is a program beginning on Sunday, Sept. 24 and ending on Sunday, Oct. 22 for kids in pre-K through the eighth grade. Each series will take place once a week for five weeks at 4 p.m. on Sundays at Buda City Park and offers running events, including the 50- and 75-yard dashes, quarter mile, half mile and the one-mile run, depending on the child's age group.

At the end of the series, the kids who accumulate the most points in their respective distances are awarded trophies, but all participants receive a medal during the final week.

There is also a Challenger Division offered, which has an adaptive 75-yard race for children with disabilities and/or special needs.

“That caters to our intellectually and physically disabled athletes. We reached out to sponsors to take care of their registration. So, they just register and it's completely free for them,” said Latoya Edwards-Hordge, coordinator of the Healthy Kids Running Series Buda-Kyle. “We have one runner that's attending Fuentes Elementary and I didn't want her to run by herself, so I called out for help from city council and county commissioners and I said, ‘Can you all just run arm in arm together and get her down the finish line?’ That's what we'll be doing this season and I’m excited about it.”

Edwards-Hordge understands that not every kid enjoys running, but she encourages them to finish the race at their own pace. She said that the life skills learned through this experience will always be transferable; the fact that a runner gets on the starting line each week to perform to the best of their ability shows strength and courage, while also building character.

“We start each race doing stretches. At the end, with the younger ones, we jump up and down ... I have named it 'jumping out the jitters,' but they are actually getting their blood flowing, and their muscles warm to ultimately get them across the line,” she said.

While the fall series is hosted at Buda City Park, Edwards-Hordge said they anticipate seeing kids from other cities in Hays County, including Dripping Springs. She said they typically have 120-150 kids every year participate in the running program.

The series coordinator has always had a passion for helping kids develop an interest in a healthy lifestyle. Edwards-Hordge has a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness from State University of New York at Buffalo State University and a Masters of Science in Health Education from Texas A&M University. She also has been credited with a NCAA All American status six times for track and field.

She owns and operates Hordge Camp Youth Wellness, which is an interactive youth program for children between the ages of 5 and 14 to understand what a healthy lifestyle is.

“We tackle all things wellness, from physical fitness, strength and conditioning, mental health, financial literacy, yoga and farm-to-table. There's a number of different dimensions of that wellness that we encompass,” Edwards-Hordge said. “And we try to make sure that they are gaining experiences outside of the classroom that they probably wouldn't capture inside. We only operate when they're on school breaks, so like spring break and there's a week in the summer. We try to make sure that we're tackling those sessions when they're out of school. It's always been a passion of mine.”

Online registration for the running series is now $45 — which covers the full five weeks of the series — and it includes race bibs for each week, a runner shirt, a finisher medal and any sponsor giveaways.

Registration is nonrefundable and non-transferrable. Single-day race registration on-site opens one hour prior to the start of each race; the $20 registration fee covers one single race to be run on the day of registration and a runner shirt while supplies last. Shirt sizing and availability is not guaranteed for single day racers.

For those who may not be able to afford registration, Edwards-Hordge said there are sponsorships available.

To register for the Healthy Kids Running Series or learn more about the program, visit bit.ly/450SQzU.