In the top photo, kids get ready for the Cascades Fire Chase 9-1-1- fun run in May. Next, at the kids' friendly Van Metre event, children try out a cooler March morning. Below that at the Leesburg 10K20K, the kids have a fun run all their own.

The development of youth running programs as an afterschool enrichment activity continues to be a growing trend around the country. Schools are working hard to incorporate affordable physical education into their weekly schedules, and organized running activities seem to be topping the list. "Schools and running program directors have looked to the RRCA for many years for guidance in developing their running programs," explains Jean Knaack, RRCA executive director. "As a leader in the running industry, we felt it was important to provide youth running program directors with basic guidelines to follow when developing their programs and working with children." In advance of the printed edition of the RRCA: Kids Run the Nation Program guide that will be available in October 2008, the Road Runners Club of America promotes the following guidelines for youth running. These guidelines are based on the 10 developmental principles that guide training and racing for young distance runners outlined in the book Training for Young Distance Runners written by Larry Greene, PhD and Russ Pate, PhD, published by Human Kinetics.

* Make Running Fun: First and foremost, running should be fun! Do not use running as a punishment. Encourage children to participate and try their best.

* Emphasize good technique: Teach youth good form early and help eliminate bad habits such as excessive arm movement, twisting of the upper body, or over striding.

* Focus on participation and self-improvement: In grade school, running should be about participation and developing a healthy lifestyle, not about being the fastest kid in the school or program. Save competition for middle and high school aged students.

* Consider individual differences: Avoid a one size fits all running program. Accommodate for differences in abilities within the group. Children mature both physically and emotionally at different rates, and this will factor into their ability to participate in running.

* Limit systematic training and competition before puberty: Before puberty children are rapidly growing and changing. Excessive, systematic training may interfere with normal growth and cause injury in a child. Between the ages of 3 and 9, encourage regular exercise, which can include organized running for fun. Around the age of 8-12, children may enjoy participation in a more organized running program that has a more systematic training environment that lasts 2-3 months. Around the age of 12 for girls and 14 for boys, key developmental changes will enable students to slowly increase training distance and duration leading to participation in a systematic and competitive training environment.

* Increase running workload gradually: Running workload includes volume (distance), intensity (speed or effort), and frequency (number of days a week). Just as with adult running, children should start a running program with a low volume, lower intensity, and frequency limited to a couple days a week. Workload should increase over the duration of the program, but should remain appropriate for the individual student.

* Participate in age appropriate running events: Running in a kid's fun run or youth track event can be a great experience for kids. For children 5 and younger, focus on "dash" events that range from a few yards to 400 meters. For children 5 and older, kids fun runs that are a 1/2 to 1 mile long may be considered, but allow for a combination of running and walking. Children ages 12 and older may want to participate in a 5K run. Children ages 15 and older may want to participate in a 10K to half marathon event. Children 18 and older may want to participate in a marathon or further distance. These are general guidelines and the distance a child can physically and emotionally tolerate will depend on the individual, however longer distances (10K and over) should wait until after puberty.

ABOUT RRCA: Founded in 1958, the RRCA is the oldest and largest national association of running clubs, running events, and runners. The mission of the RRCA is to promote long distance grassroots running as a competitive sport and healthful exercise. The RRCA achieves their mission by promoting the common interests of its members by providing educational opportunities, programs, and services. The organization's membership consists of more than 940 running clubs and events that host more than 5000 races and comprises more than 180,000 running club members in the US.