Great Neck Middle Running Club 2008

The 2008 Yuengling Shamrock Sportsfest is continuing its fight against childhood obesity by adding races and attracting kids aged 6 months to 15 years for the different races spread throughout the weekend. Amy and Jerry Frostick, the Shamrock race directors, started the Final Mile Program three years ago, targeting elementary age children to finish 25.2 miles prior to the Shamrock weekend and finishing the last mile at the Operation Smile Final Mile. "Our goal with the race is to give something positive for children to work towards that is also fitness oriented. The statistics with Childhood Obesity are scary and should not be something our youth of today are faced with," says Jerry Frostick. The first year the Final Mile program attracted 20 schools and more than 600 participants. This year the Operation Smile Final Mile has 90 schools committed to participate in the program and is projected to have more than 2400 runners. "The growth and community support has been overwhelming," Frostick adds.

The 2008 Shamrock Sportsfest has added yet another category to its weekend running festival, the Shorebreak 8K Middle School Challenge. The goal of the 8K Middle School Challenge is to get the children moving and working towards a goal. It was not long after the program was introduced that Great Neck Middle School in Virginia Beach, VA was calling to see how they could get involved. Laura Ballance, a sixth grade teacher, quickly took on the task of starting a running club at Great Neck Middle, which has become the most popular after school club. The Great Neck Running Club has almost 60 kids involved with 8 teachers assisting and training as well. "The Great Neck Running Club is a fun and exciting way for Middle school students to stay fit and active. The staff at Great Neck has joined with the students to help promote fitness and their love of running. It has been amazing to see it unfold!" says Balance. Each child receives a Shorebreak 8K Middle School Challenge T-shirt when they sign up for the race. They will also receive a medal and certificate as they complete their Shamrock 8K goal in March.

Shamrock has attracted the Elementary age children and has started the Middle School program, but what about the High School students? In November, Kim Baylor, a ninth grade PE Teacher at Granby High School in Norfolk, VA, contacted Shamrock about getting her students to complete the Half Marathon. "Kim was full of energy and wanted to help her students complete the goal but did not know how she would start or afford shoes and entry fees for her students," Frostick said. Amy and Jerry Frostick are also the owners of Final Kick Sports in Virginia Beach. They donated 40 pairs of shoes to the students to begin training for the race. The Frostick's also hosted a fundraiser at their store to raise money for these children to participate in the 13.1 mile race. During the PE class at Granby, Kim Baylor has the students run 2.5 to 5 miles. The students committed to training on their own during the weekends as well. Baylor has 50 students that will participate in the half marathon this March.

The Shamrock Sportsfest has one other children's race that cannot go unmentioned. The 26.2-yard dash to the finish for children aged 6 months to 5 year is adorable. The children participating in this race all receive a T-shirt and medal when they cross the finish line.

The 2008 Yuengling Shamrock Marathon, Half Marathon, 8K, and Children's Races will be held the weekend of March 15 - 16, 2008 in Virginia Beach, VA. For more information or to sign you child up, please visit the race Web site.