FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2016 Global Running Day Featuring First-Ever Million Kid Run
Set for Wednesday, June 1
New York, April 13, 2016— Global Running Day, a day for people all over the
world to celebrate the joys of running, is set for Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
Global Running Day is the evolution of National Running Day in the U.S.,
which was started in 2009 by leading running organizations and races
throughout the nation, and has been held annually on the first Wednesday of
June ever since. Global Running Day will feature the most prominent running
organizations around the world coming together to share their passion for
the sport and inspire others to get moving. The centerpiece of Global
Running Day is the first-ever Million Kid Run that aims to have a million
kids around the world pledge to run on June 1.
"What began as a grassroots initiative eight years ago has naturally grown
into a global day of running, fitness, and fun with partners and
participants around the world," said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of
New York Road Runners. "New this year, the Million Kid Run is a thrilling
initiative that will see a million kids worldwide experience the joys of
running that will hopefully inspire them to run for life. We hope that June
1 connects runners of all ages and abilities together to celebrate a sport
that truly betters lives and communities around the world."
With the elevation to Global Running Day in 2016, distinguished running
organizations worldwide will be participating, including the Abbott World
Marathon Majors, Atlanta Track Club, Boston Athletic Association,
Competitor Group, Houston Marathon Foundation, International Association of
Athletics Federations' Athletics for a Better World program, New York Road
Runners, Running USA, USA Track & Field, and more. Runners from marathons
and other races in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles,
Minneapolis, Mumbai, New York, Prague, Tokyo, and more, will play active
roles in Global Running Day. Many of the top professional runners from
around the world will also be a part of the day, and help share their
passion for the sport with the global running community.
"At the Abbott World Marathon Majors, we celebrate our participants and the
sport of marathoning, and it's an honor to extend that to the next
generation through Global Running Day," said Tim Hadzima, general manager
of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. "We will continue to work to inspire
the millions of kids running on June 1 to live a healthy lifestyle. We look
forward to one day seeing these runners on the streets of our races in
Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City."
The first-ever Million Kid Run on Global Running Day aims to get young
people around the world moving. The goal is to have a million kids around
the world pledge to run on June 1. The Million Kid Run is about making
fitness fun, and inspiring kids to embrace running as a way to get healthy
and fit. From a school administrator pledging students, to a youth coach
pledging their running team, to a parent pledging their child, kids around
the world will come together to celebrate the power and benefits of running
and fitness.
"I think it's very important for kids to get active in all sports,
especially running," said Matthew Centrowitz, an Olympian and the reigning
world indoor 1500-meter champion. "Starting to be active at a young age is
extremely important for a future, healthy lifestyle, especially the
friendships you make through running. I'm looking forward to seeing more
than 1 million kids around the globe be active on Global Running Day on
June 1."
Participating in the day will be as simple as making a pledge on the Global
Running Day website, globalrunningday.org, to promise to be a part of the
running community on June 1. It can be a solo lap around the block, a long
run with friends, or even a game of tag with kids. The key is for runners
of all ages and abilities to share their passion for the sport and inspire
others to get moving. After adults take their pledge, they can pledge on
behalf of the kids in their lives, adding all of the names to a list of
runners from around the world who are coming together to celebrate the
sport. Pledging begins on Monday, May 2, on globalrunningday.org. Running
organizations and groups, individuals, school administrators, coaches, and
parents will be able to visit the website to explore group runs and other
events happening around the world, find information on running activities
for all abilities for adults and youth, connect with Global Running Day
socially via #GlobalRunningDay, and customize a Global Running Day bib and
finisher certificate.
About Global Running Day
Global Running Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in June, is a day
for people around the world to celebrate the joys of running. It is a
worldwide celebration of the sport, and a way for runners of all ages and
abilities to share their passion for running and inspire others to get
moving. The Million Kid Run on Global Running Day aims to get young people
moving. The goal is to have a million kids around the world pledge to run
on June 1, 2016. The Million Kid Run is about making fitness fun, and
inspiring kids to embrace running as a way to get healthy and fit. Global
Running Day is a collaborative effort of the most prominent running
organizations around the world, with many of the top professional runners
helping to share their passion for the sport with the global running
community.
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