Marathon Kids 2025 - Middletown, NJ

Marathon Kids 2025 PreK-6th Grade Program:

Marathon Kids, in its 20th year and in coordination with SMAA's Spring Into Summer 5K, is a program exclusively for St. Mary School PK - 6th grade students to motivate them to become more physically active. We involve our participants in a series of warm-ups and training exercises on the Mater Dei Track / St. Mary Church Campus. This program prepares them to participate in the official 1-Mile race that kicks off the Spring Into Summer 5K Race on Saturday, May 17th, 2025. 

When:

• Beginning Monday, April 28th and culminating with the Spring Into Summer 1-mile race on Saturday, May 17th at 8:10am.  Practice dates are as follows, 2:30 - 3:00 pm:

  • • • Monday, April 28th

      • Tuesday, April 29th

      • Friday, May 2nd

      • Monday, May 5th

      • Tuesday, May 6th

      • Friday, May 9th

      • Monday, May 12th

      • Friday, May 16th

      • RACE DAY SATURDAY, MAY 17th @ 8:10am !  RAIN OR SHINE!

Where:

• Mater Dei Track / St. Mary Church Campus

What's Included:

• One practice/race day cotton Marathon Kids t-shirt    

• 8 training sessions 

• Race day fee for the May 17th, 1-Mile race

• Post-race festivities

Important Information:

• PreK participants will be dismissed from school at regular dismissal time to their parent/guardian. Parent/guardian is responsible for bringing their child(ren) to the Mater Dei Track by 2:30pm AND participate with their child(ren) when completing track laps.

• K - 6th grade students will be escorted to the track promptly after school dismissal by parent volunteers, 7th & 8th grade student volunteers, and program coordinators.  Parent/guardian must arrive to the track by 3pm and sign their child(ren) out with a parent volunteer. K - 6th grade After Care participants will be escorted back to the school by St. Mary school staff, parent volunteers, and/or a program coordinator.

• Participants are permitted to wear their gym uniform (Marathon Kids t-shirt included) to school on all Marathon Kids practice days (this includes Mass days).

• Participants must be dressed appropriately for weather conditions and have proper running shoes. Please send sunblock which the child can apply themselves, and extra water.

• Anyone absent from school on a practice day may not participate in that day's practice.

• Any child that has an injury may not participate in practices until full medical clearance is authorized.

• This program is coordinated with the support of the St. Mary's Athletic Association (SMAA) for St. Mary School students only. Marathon Kids coordinators, volunteers and participants are expected to follow all SMAA guidelines. Participants are expected to respect all sports property of Marathon Kids and the Mater Dei track & field. Participants are expected to respect all coordinators and volunteers (parents and 7th & 8th grade student volunteers). If any participant is reported for any disciplinary reason, we reserve the right to time out on first offense; speak with parent/guardian on 2nd offense; and remove participant from the program on 3rd offense. 

• In case of inclement weather, an announcement will be made at school and an automated alert will be sent no later than 1pm.

• **ONLY CURRENT PREK - 6TH GRADE SMS STUDENTS SHOULD BE REGISTERED HERE. IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO PARTAKE, UNTIMED, IN THE 1 MILE RACE ALONGSIDE YOUR CHILD, DO NOT REGISTER YOURSELF. TO REGISTER FOR THE 5K OR OTHER RACES, GO TO https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Middletown/SpringIntoSummer

Support Us:

• Ask family and friends to help by donating or making a pledge for your child(ren) to complete the race.  There is a designated donation tab on the registration form and all donations will go directly to the St. Mary School PTA.

• Volunteers are needed to assist with participant arrival, dismissal, and with aftercare students. Please sign up using the following SignUpGenius link: https://bit.ly/4af17Vu 

• Support the program by purchasing Marathon Kids branded gear. Commemorative 20th Anniversary trucker hats, $16; additional Marathon Kids t-shirts, $10; unisex terry wristbands & elastic headbands, $1.  All proceeds go directly to the St. Mary School PTA.