POTTSTOWN PA – Pottstown is among nine municipalities in the TriCounty Region that are scheduled this year to sponsor sessions of the national Healthy Kids Running Series. The events, which started during 2009, are intended “provide children with a fun introduction to the sport of running,” while building their confidence and self-esteem.
The series, organized into spring and fall runs, is operated by a Chadds Ford PA-based community non-profit of the same name. In addition to Pottstown, spring runs are planned in Montgomery County for Collegeville, Harleysville, and Norristown. In Berks County, municipal participants include Boyertown and Reading. Chester County runs are set for Phoenixville, Exton, and Kennett Square.
The races are billed by Healthy Kids as “great way to get up and go!,” for children ages 2-14 during five weeks of events in their respective hometowns. Some municipalities have similar race dates; others are being held earlier or later. Almost all also are appealing for volunteers to help with race-related tasks.
The cost of per-person registration for the full spring series of five runs is $54, but $5 early-bird discounts may be available before specific dates. Kids can also sign up as single-day walk-ups for individual races, at a cost of nearly $17 each.
Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash+, used under license
The Local When, Where, and What
Here’s a list of participating municipalities, with running dates and details:
Pottstown: Runs planned for April 19 and 26, and May 3, 10, and 17, all starting at 3 p.m., and held at Kenilworth Park, 1150 Scherfel Blvd., Pottstown. Register online. Candace Wiggins is its coordinator; contact her by phone at 484-750-8764 or by e-mail at pottstownpa@healthykidsrs.org. Diahann James is its co-coordinator. See its Facebook page here.
Boyertown: Runs planned for April 19 and 26, and May 3, 10, and 17, all starting at 3 p.m., and held at Douglass Park, 76 Jackson Rd., Gilbertsville. Register online. Jeff Shontz is its coordinator. Contact him by phone at 484-525-0503, or by e-mail at boyertownpa@healthykidsrs.org. See its Facebook page here.
Collegeville: Runs planned for April 12, 19, and 26, and May 3 and 10, all starting at 4:30 p.m., and held at Anderson Farm Park, 499 Hopwood Rd., Collegeville. Register online. Peter Beehler is its coordinator; contact him by phone at 610-316-6910 or by e-mail at collegevillepa@healthykidsrs.org. See its Facebook page here.
Harleysville: Runs planned for April 12, 19, and 26, and May 3 and 10, all starting at 3 p.m., and held at Uncle Norm’s Pavilion, Harleysville Community Center, 435 Park Ave., Harleysville. Register online. Clay Jones is its coordinator; contact him by phone at 706-202-3878 or by e-mail at harleysvillepa@healthykidsrs.org. See its Facebook page here.
Norristown: Runs planned for April 18 and 25, and May 2, 9, and 16, all starting at 10 a.m., and held at East Norriton Middle School, 330 Roland Dr., Norristown. Register online. Shiela Falk is its coordinator; contact her by phone at 610-306-4068 or by e-mail at norristownpa@healthykidsrs.org. See its Facebook page here.
Phoenixville: Runs planned for April 12, 19, and 26, and May 3 and 10, all starting at 4:30 p.m., and held at Charlestown Park, 100 Academics Way, Phoenixville. Register online. Meagan Loughnane is its coordinator; contact her by phone at 410-776-4661 or by e-mail at phoenixvillepa@healthykidsrs.org. See its Facebook page here.
More on the Schedule
Also scheduled are:
Exton: Runs planned for April 12, 19, and 26, and May 3 and 10, all starting at 3 p.m., and held at Albert C. Miller Park, West Whiteland Township, 220 Miller Way, Exton. Register online. Sally Andersen is its coordinator; contact her by phone at 215-460-3463 or by e-mail at extonpa@healthykidsrs.org. See its Facebook page here.
Kennett Square: Runs planned for April 26, and May 3, 10, 17, and 31, all starting at 3:30 p.m., and held at Field 20 of the Unionville Chadds Ford School District, 132 E. Doe Run Rd., Kennett Square. Register online. Kristen Starrs is its coordinator; contact her by phone at 610-742-9110 or by e-mail at KennettSquarePA@healthykidsrs.org. See its Facebook page here; and
Reading: Runs planned for April 12, 19, and 26, and May 3 and 17, all starting at 3 p.m., and held at Shiloh Hills Park, 303 Sage Dr., Reading. Register online. Anthony Pilla is its coordinator; contact him by phone at 610-425-9857 or by e-mail at readingpa@healthykidsrs.org. See its Facebook page here.
Each series takes place once a week, and offers age-appropriate running events including 50- and 75-yard dashes, as well as 1/4-mile, 1/2-mile and 1-mile runs. Kids earn points for each race they complete, based on their finish. All Healthy Kids events in Pennsylvania are sponsored by Giant Foods, Musselman’s apple products, and the USATF Foundation.
Our local news reporting includes Healthy Living articles about healthcare, wellness, medical providers, and medical services within, or that affect residents of, Montgomery, Berks, and Chester PA counties. Find more health-related articles here. Also, see and follow the Pottstown Health page on Facebook.
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