Two years ago, a Grade One student at Battleford Central School complained every day she had to run as part of the Saskatchewan Marathon MaraFun program. The following year, the same student was the first at the school to sign up for the program (much to her parents’ surprise) — and enthusiastically worked towards her goal of covering 42.2 kilometres over 10 weeks.
It’s just one example of the power of the MaraFun program, says Jessica Labman, a counsellor and one of three MaraFun leaders at Battleford Central School. She says the school has been participating in the MaraFun as far back as staff can remember, with 60 to 90 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 signing up. This year, 86 students will take part in the program.
“We love that it is accessible for all ages in elementary as many of the younger students don’t have other opportunities to participate in school sports,” she says.
The MaraFun program creates a fun way for youth aged 13 and younger to get active and take part in the Saskatchewan Marathon race weekend on May 26. Team leaders — who can be school staff, parents or leaders of community groups — sign up and receive a detailed six- or 10-week training plan developed by staff at Craven SPORT Services. Over the course of the program, leaders have access to video sessions with experts who address common questions about youth training and nutrition.
Participants will walk, run or wheelchair a minimum of four kilometres each week to log 40 kilometres in advance of race day. They can then participate in the 2.2km MaraFun event held at the Saskatchewan Marathon weekend or do an event in their own community, which team leaders receive support to put on. Regardless of how young athletes finish the program, they receive MaraFun shirts and finisher’s medals.
“(Last year) a parent called me; her 6 year old and 8 year old were in Marafun,” Labman says. “She wanted to tell me that both her kids asked her if they can continue running once Marafun was over — that’s why we run.”
She has more stories, too. A student who broke her leg went on walks with her crutches and kept track of her kilometres because she didn’t want to give up on her MaraFun goal. A child who struggled beamed with pride after running the farthest she’d ever run.
“We see kids learning that they can do hard and amazing things one step at a time (literally),” Labman says. “We have learned that absolutely anyone can be a runner.”
Jessie Blanchet, a teacher at École Silverspring School in Saskatoon, is helping with the MaraFun for the first time. She’s excited to share the joy and power of running; it’s a sport that teaches people they are capable of doing hard things.
“I love that kids have an opportunity to participate in a sport where their effort correlates so closely with their results,” she says. “I was that kid who worked the hardest at every sport I tried, and I never felt I could measure up to some of the kids who had more natural ability. Running is something that celebrates effort and perseverance. I saw some kids who never in their lives thought of themselves as athletes gain confidence and realize that they do have athletic ability.”
Setting a goal of covering such a long distance feels daunting at first for many kids, but the structured training plan allows them to chip away at the distance gradually, making the goal become more and more attainable.
“Kids who were nervous at first became excited after the last few training sessions. Furthermore, a few teachers noticed that students were much more calm and had much more capacity to focus on their learning after their Marafun training,” Blanchet says.
The 10-week MaraFun program starts March 18 and the six-week program begins April 15. Please check with your school to see if they are participating this year, if not there is now a Family Team option. For more information or to register, go online or email organizer Jeff Culbert at jculbert@onpurpose.ca.
