Kids Run Canada

The past few years I’ve immersed myself in the mountains. I’ve found increasing inspiration from my time spent trail running and in the alpine playground. As my relationship with wild spaces has grown more intimate, I have become increasingly aware of the physical, mental, emotional and social benefits from immersion in the outdoors. Each time I head out I feel grateful for the opportunity. I revel in each chance to share my time with others, especially if it is a novel experience for them, so I’m excited by the prospect of sharing nature, its infinite beauty and possibility and its myriad benefits with children.

This summer I had the good fortune of seeing a new nationwide organization, Kids Run Canada, take its first steps. Kids Run Canada is an initiative centred in providing a trail running series for youth across Canada. More foundational, Kids Run Canada shares its vision to provide a supportive and safe environment to allow children, regardless of previous experience, a stage to try their hand and foot at play in the woods. Its focused on developing community and fostering connection with and respect for self, others and the environment. Being free to play and run in the hills is the shared expression of this pursuit. For 2014, the organization has partnered with 5 Peaks Adventures to provide a range of venues for trail running. The summer has been successful with many first-time trail kids joining returning sojourners in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.

To me, the beauty in trail running events and in the running itself is how the simplicity of the process results in profoundly happy, aware and sensitive individuals and, collectively, equally strong communities. I view this practice as a gift. I am provided the opportunity to commune with the wild in the mountains, forests and, occasionally, plains, and when that is shared with others my experience is only multiplied. I’m excited that there are avenues for providing this same gift to youth who are just now developing their sense of self, other and environment. And, over the years, not only will groups such as Kids Run Canda help to develop strong individuals and bolster their communities, but may prove to help place Canada at the forefront of endurance athletics, mountain events and environmental conservation.

Each series across Canada has offered four to six events on a different trail system, mountain or park. The final events of the season are coming in the next weeks and will feature a provincial championship, the marquee event in the day’s races, for each series.

Parents and kids interested can visit kidsrun.ca and visit 5peaks.com to sign up for the final events of the year!

Lower Mainland, B.C. – Sept. 27 at Buntzen Lake
Kootenay, B.C. – Sept. 20 in Golden
Central Alberta – Sept. 13 at the Canmore Nordic Centre
Northern Alberta – Sept. 20 in Devon
Saskatchewan – Aug.29 at Meewasin Valley