Former Dallas mayor Laura Miller, councilmember Philip Kingston, along with leaders of the Cigna Mayor’s Race 5K presented by Oncor — part of MetroPCS Dallas Marathon weekend in December — today visited Stevens Park Elementary School to kick off a running program designed to improve the physical health and wellness of Dallas ISD students.
“Ten years ago, Dallas was ranked as one of the most overweight cities in the country, so we started the Cigna Mayor’s Race in an effort to fight the obesity epidemic involving our city’s children,” said former Dallas mayor and current Dallas Marathon board member Laura Miller. “Each December we look forward to sharing the value of a fit, healthy lifestyle with more and more DISD students by providing free entry and transportation to the Cigna Mayor’s Race.”
MetroPCS Dallas Marathon officials and members of the Dallas Police Department and Fire Department introduced the Stevens Park Elementary students to the 3 Months to 3 Miles training program, a kid-friendly program that promotes family exercise activities like bike riding and jogging. The program helps prepare schoolchildren and participants for the 3.1-mile run at the 2013 Cigna Mayor’s Race on Saturday, December 7.
“Each year we strive to improve the Cigna Mayor’s Race for the children, and we fully expect this year’s to be the biggest and best yet,” said Patrick Byerly, president of the Dallas Marathon. “Last year we bussed in more than 5,000 Dallas ISD students, almost doubling the number of participants from years past. We’re excited to share one of Dallas’ best 5K courses — with a start and finish in Trinity Groves and a scenic crossing along the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge — with even more budding runners this December.”
Stevens Park Elementary fourth- and fifth-graders enjoyed a special treat before hearing about the importance of health and fitness — they toured a series of Dallas Police and Fire Department vehicles, including armored SWAT team vehicles and a fire truck. After the presentation, MetroPCS Dallas Marathon sponsor New Balance fit 50 students from Stevens Park Elementary for a pair of free running shoes. These students will receive their donated running shoes from New Balance in the coming weeks to help jumpstart training runs.
The Cigna Mayor’s Race 5K presented by Oncor is held on Saturday, December 7, and is ideal for children and families looking to get involved in MetroPCS Dallas Marathon weekend festivities or for serious runners looking for a late-year race or final tune-up prior to the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon. Entrance is free for all Dallas ISD students. All paying registrants are chip timed.
For more information on the Cigna Mayor’s Race 5K presented by Oncor, visit dallasmarathon.com/mayors-race-5k.
About the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon
The MetroPCS Dallas Marathon is a flat and fast race, featuring a scenic course that highlights the best areas of Dallas including the landmark Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava. Texas’ oldest running marathon, the race serves as a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. Race activities occur the second weekend of each December and include a two-day Health and Fitness Expo; the Mayor’s Race 5K presented by Cigna and Oncor; and the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon, 5-Person Relay, and SMU Cox Corporate Relay Challenge presented by Behringer Harvard. The Dallas Marathon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; the primary beneficiary of proceeds from race weekend is Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. For more information, visit dallasmarathon.com.