• Susan and Mide holding banner with Five Million Miles above two program participants

    Just Run Program Suspended Until Further Notice

    The Big Sur Marathon Foundation, the major funding source for JUST RUN, has suffered severe financial repercussions due to the Covid-19 pandemic and are unable to offer our youth fitness program at this time. The website remains active for informational use and as a physical activity resource. Effective October 1st, email info@bsim.org or call (831) 625-6226 for more info.
  • Just Run Kids and Coaches

    Just Run Program Suspended Until Further Notice

    The Big Sur Marathon Foundation, the major funding source for JUST RUN, has suffered severe financial repercussions due to the Covid-19 pandemic and are unable to offer our youth fitness program at this time. The website remains active for informational use and as a physical activity resource. Effective October 1st, email info@bsim.org or call (831) 625-6226 for more info.
  • Kids Stretching, Just Run

    Just Run Program Suspended Until Further Notice

    The Big Sur Marathon Foundation, the major funding source for JUST RUN, has suffered severe financial repercussions due to the Covid-19 pandemic and are unable to offer our youth fitness program at this time. The website remains active for informational use and as a physical activity resource. Effective October 1st, email info@bsim.org or call (831) 625-6226 for more info.

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JUST RUN - National Award-Winning Youth Fitness Program

This website-based program assists schools and youth organizations throughout the United States and foreign countries in the promotion of physical activity & healthy lifestyles. Outstanding success! Since the development of JUST RUN in 2005, more than 200,000 children in 43 states have logged over 5,000,000 miles.

Benefits for Children

Benefits for Teachers

  • Combats childhood obesity
  • Promotes pride in accomplishment and life-long positive habits
  • Non-competitive - all children are successful
  • A fun experience for children of all ages
  • Group goal setting
  • Educational through JUST RUN Across the USA/Europe
  • Good citizenship through Just Deeds
  • Healthy eating through Just Taste
  • FREE
  • Easy to implement and turn-key
  • Training, advice, and support provided
  • Excellent resource guide for health-related topics
  • Raises academic and fitness test scores
  • Supplements or fulfills physical activity requirements
  • Improves students' focus and behavior
  • Graduate units (CEUs) available via UOP

 

Testimonials

In just a few years JUST RUN has moved impressively ahead of the pack and is our best example of a thriving program by every measure - participants enjoy it, parents and teachers see the benefits, school districts can afford it, and the impact on youth fitness can be measured. JUST RUN staff Mike Dove and Susan Love received the Youth Programs Contributors of the Year at the 2007 annual conference of Running USA, the trade association for the Running Industry. No one is more dedicated to finding ways to improve the fitness and quality of life for America's youth than this team. JUST RUN staff has also been very generous with their ideas and time to mentor other groups who are interested in providing similar programs. The running industry, state of California and physical education programs around the country are lucky to have the energy and resources offered by the JUST RUN staff.

Basil Honikman, former CEO, Running USA

Our Sponsors

  • Thank You

    to our generous sponsors

  • Thank You

    to our generous sponsors

  • Thank You

    to our generous sponsors

  • Thank You

    to our generous sponsors

  • Thank You

    to our generous sponsors

  • Thank You

    to our generous sponsors

  • Thank You

    to our generous sponsors

  • Thank You

    to our generous sponsors

  • Thank You

    to our generous sponsors

  • Thank You

    to our generous sponsors

JUST RUN Tip

Exercise Stations - Porter Youth Center

"As each child finished a designated number of laps, increasing each session from 2 to 3 to 4 to 5, etc., each would go to one of several exercise station areas. There were exercise stations designated for jumping jacks, push ups, and sit ups. After the exercises a warm-down lap or two was run.

The children also enjoyed competition like 100 meter sprints against each other, with the winners advancing from each group to race against each other. They also liked to run one lap to beat a designated time, for example everyone tried to run faster than 2 minutes.

One special workout most kids enjoyed was a backwards challenge. To mix up the running on the track, they were challenged to run backwards the entire time for one lap without stopping or to do some out of the ordinary thing besides running.

One interesting idea is to get children who usually stand and talk to 'walk while they talk' at recesses or during lunch time. Especially if they wore pedometers, this walking while talking gives them quite a bit of unexpected exercise."

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?
Do we need to pay a fee to register for the program?
Can I register at any time or only at the beginning of the school year?
My school cannot afford to buy incentives. How should we award the kids?
What are JUST RUN Chapters?

NYSS Champion

NYSS Champion badge

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is pleased to recognize Just Run as one of the first organizations to join the National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) Champion program. As an NYSS Champion, Just Run has demonstrated their organization’s support of youth sports and commitment to the NYSS vision. Just Run will be recognized along with other NYSS Champions on health.gov as part of a growing network of organizations partnering with HHS to improve the youth sports landscape.

JUST RUN Drill

Sample Warm Up Drills

It is very important to warm up the body before running or walking or doing any sports activity. Here are some sample warm up drills: Remember - no bouncing without warming up first.

  • Reach for the Stars - Stand straight and tall and reach as high as you can 5 times with each arm.
  • Sunflower - form a sunflower (circle) with arms over head and open and bend like a squat while reaching for the ground - then back up again - 5 times.
  • Volcano - make whooshing sounds as you bend down and reach for the ground - then stand up straight and tall and reach for the sky.
  • Shake it up - Shake the hands and feet at the same time for a minute.
  • Gentle Jumping Jacks - Jump gently with feet apart and hands reaching over head.
  • High Knee Running in place - Start slowly then move legs faster and higher while running in place.

Proud Partner with the Active School Movement

Active School Movement logo

Sign up to become a champion to increase physical education and physical activity in our nation's schools.