Running has given me so much over the years: goals to work towards, accomplishments to be proud of, failures to reflect on and friendships to last a lifetime. So when I heard that Canadian Running, Nike Canada and Toronto Community Housing were partnering this spring on a one-on-one mentorship pilot program called Lane 6, to help the city’s at-risk youth develop a passion for running, I didn’t jog, I sprinted at the opportunity to be involved.

The first step in the process was to attend the mandatory training session with Up2Us Sports, the U.S.-based non-profit that taught me and my fellow mentors-to-be the basics of using sport to inspire kids. Then, it was all systems go at Central Tech Stadium’s blue oval last Saturday morning. The sun was shining (full disclosure: I left with a very red face), the birds were chirping and there were only a few stubborn slush puddles remaining from the incredibly un-spring-like ice storm the weekend prior.

The mentors and our three coaches—Nike+ Run Club Toronto coach and chiropractor extraordinaire Brittany Moran and Canadian Running staffers Joel Vosburg and Dan Way—huddled for a quick rundown of the morning’s events before the the 30 adorable kids, ranging in ages from five to 14, arrived.

They were whisked off of their school bus and welcomed into the stadium with what can only be described as a perfectly executed high-five tunnel. Their reactions ranged from super stoked to moderately amused to full-blown skeptical, but I was confident we’d win them over before we parted ways.

Next came roll call. One by one the kids were introduced to their mentors, who were tasked with swiftly getting them outfitted in a Lane 6 T-shirt and a brand-new pair of Nike sneakers.

I was matched with Sabrina, a 13-year-old sweetheart wearing ripped jeans and her older sister’s hand-me-down Jordans, who loves basketball and just recently had a cast removed from her right ankle due to an unfortunate playground accident. Despite her visibly swollen extremity, the enthusiastic eighth grader was eager to participate. We upped her shoe size to allow some extra room—“I get to keep these?” she exclaimed in disbelief—and headed to the track to warm up.

The A’s, B’s and C’s that the coaches led us through required some jumping that didn’t feel comfortable for my injured mentee, so I encouraged her to instead focus on nailing the form of the high-knee march.

Then the workout commenced. Since this was the first week, we kept things simple with 15 minutes spent rotating between easy running and walking for one minute each, followed by a final five minutes of continuous running at a slightly faster pace. The intention was to see where the group was in terms of ability, and introduce them to the concepts of effort and pacing.

I noticed Sabrina limping a bit. She assured me she wasn’t in any pain, so we jogged and chatted about everything from running experience to sibling dynamics and “bad influences.” She told me she’d be attending Central Technical School next year, making this her soon-to-be home track, and then she took off in a spontaneous attempt to beat her younger brother in a foot race. Sadly, she lost, but we both knew the recovering ankle was to blame. Just you wait, little bro!

After the run, we picked Coach Britt’s brain for some ankle strengthening tips. “Balance on one foot while you brush your teeth,” she said, “and spell out the alphabet with your foot to increase range of motion.” Noted.

We found a comfy spot on the grass to refuel with water and snacks, and I helped my future track star record her running goals in the journal that was provided. The verdict: Over the next six weeks, Sabrina hopes to regain the strength in her ankle, run pain-free without stopping for the entire workout and, most importantly, trounce her brother in a rematch. All totally feasible.

We waved goodbye for now to our new pals as they boarded their yellow chariot—looking significantly happier than when they arrived, if you ask me. The feeling was mutual.

Canadian Running, Nike are partnering to inspire the next generation of track athletes and runners through a weekly running and mentorship program. Kids from around Toronto come for weekly training sessions at Central Tech track. This program is designed to be a fun entry way into running and a safe space to set goals and share with mentors.

With coaching, gear, mentor guidance and a fun atmosphere, Canadian Running and Nike are inspiring kids to be active through running.

A special thanks to our nutrition sponsor: