Video: Naugatuck Students Prep For Last Mile of the Marathon

This Saturday, students from Central Avenue School and Maple Hill School will run their last mile of a 25.1-mile marathon. 

A group of third- and fourth-grade students have been participating in the Kidsmarathon program, sponsored by the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS).  Since March 7, a group of 50 students have been logging their runs every Monday in as part of the accumulated marathon.

The focus of the program is promoting exercise and health among elementary school children, said Principal Evelyn Gobstein. Olympic medalist Rod Dixon began the program, according to CAS.

On Saturday, the group will go to Cheshire High School where they will participate in the last mile of the run, along with thousands of students from across the state, said Principal Evelyn Gobstein.

“It’s a program that’s built upon the fact that they want children to make healthy choices for food,” Gobstein said. “And also to make healthy choices in terms of exercise." 

Central Avenue partook in the initial pilot Kidsmarathon program in 2010. It was such a hit that school decided to do it again, she said.

“When we went up there last year, there was not one kid that did not finished the mile,” said Sean Warran, physical education teacher. “And the expressions on their face were unimaginable." 

There’s no general requirement for partaking in the Kidsmarathon. Anyone can do it, Warren noted, even if they want to run, walk or jog in it.

Editor's Note: Sean Warren's name was incorrectly written as Seth Warren. This has since been corrected in both the text and the video.