Kids Marathon in Naperville helps little ones gain running experience

When Tara Dham of Naperville started training for half marathons, her two young kids were always with her.

In a jogging stroller, Shaalyni, now 5, and Tarun, 3, "always felt like they were running," Dham said.

Now, in the new Kids Marathon at the fourth annual Healthy Driven Naperville Marathon this weekend, Shaalyni is getting a taste of the sport on her own two feet.

Once Shaalyni turned 5 in August, reaching the youngest age at which kids are allowed to participate in the new 1-mile race, her mother signed her up and helped her train.

Shaalyni and about 750 other young participants in the Kids Marathon must log their miles, running them one at a time from 0 to 25. Then, completed mileage log in tow, they can toe the line at 3 p.m. Saturday at Naperville North High School to race their final 1.2 miles to complete a full marathon of 26.2.

The race is the perfect mind trick for an active kindergartner like Shaalyni, her mother says.

"She thinks she's doing the whole marathon," Dham said.

Instead, she's been running laps around her subdivision with her mother moderating her energy and reminding her it's OK to take a break and walk.

"She always wants to go running with me and always thinks she can do all these long miles, which she can't," Dham said. "She's 5."

The young runner does the classic kid thing - sprint out at breakneck speed, then lose steam quickly, stamina not yet part of her vocabulary or physical capacity.

But she's learning, her mother says. Plus, Shaalyni and many Kids Marathon participants are learning about charity, too.

Susan Rasmus, executive director of the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation that supports Unit District 204 in the Naperville and Aurora area, says 382 kids are participating as charity partners for the organization, pledging to raise $1 for each mile they run for a total donation of $26.

The whole experience helps youngsters "learn about making healthy choices and also learn about giving back and what it means to run for someone other than yourself," Rasmus said.

Race Director Dave Sheble said organizers are amazed with the number of young participants in the first Kids Marathon, which is expected to become an annual event for runners 5 to 13.