A relay of eight top running athletes next month will run nonstop on all 2,400 miles of Route 66 in 18 days for Run It Forward, which aims to promote fitness, nutrition, and dental health to underprivileged schoolchildren along the route.
In addition to this impressive athletic feat, Run It Forward will use three crusading “soccer moms” to help lead assemblies, free dental screenings, offer health-care assistance, and start an after-school running program for schoolkids along or near Route 66.
The rock band Papa Roach donated its tour bus for the Run It Forward crew, and the program has landed several corporate sponsors to defray some expenses during the journey.
Run It Forward begins May 14 in Chicago and ends June 1 at Santa Monica.
Run It Forward founder Erika Small hatched her idea while running with Jason Harper, founder of Be Change, a nonprofit that seeks to improve health care, literacy, nutrition, and the well-being of poor inner-city schoolchildren. In fact, Harper has become an enthusiastic advocate of Run It Forward:
Small explained in an email how the relay along Route 66 would work:
We have worked out all the math dealing with the speed and level of running of each runner, topography, and how we intend breaking up miles. We have everything routed with pace cars, crew and pacers. On some days, they will run a straight 26.2. Other days they will run 13.1 twice a day. Other times they will be in teams doing 1-mile repeats for four hours at a time.
By my estimation, the group will have to average more than 130 miles a day to remain on schedule.
Small said it has been a challenge working with their many schools’ schedules for Run It Forward, especially when several will be starting summer break soon:
Example, one school we are working with will be having us host the Empowerment Expo on their very last day of school. Another school desired a fitness assembly. One town we are going through, the schools are out of session so they have elected to close down Main Street and have us hold the Empowerment Expo for the whole town.
The message remains the same. Every child deserves and equal start. Health and fitness are an essential part to raising a child to do well in school and have opportunity.
If you want to donate to Run It Forward’s effort, go here.
Sounds like Rt.66 is getting a lot of media attention lately.
As we will be touring on Route66 during that time, does anybody have a schedule when the runners will be where?
Thank you for stopping at Sombra del Monte in Albuquerque, NM. This was the best assembly I have seen in my twenty years of teaching. You have a wonderful message for our youngsters. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and positive message!
C. Farm
Teacher