Due to the success of 2014 and 2015’s Youth Running Program and Keiki Run, The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon is proud to partner with Kauai Coffee and Wilcox Health this year on expanded programs for the 2016 event. The goal of each is to foster a movement to empower Kauai keiki to make healthy lifestyle choices through the sport of running.
Course record holder and multi-year Kauai Marathon Champion Tyler McCandless started the year off with the announcement of the second annual Youth Running Program Scholarship application process. There was a tremendous response and many qualified candidates, so three scholarships were awarded to deserving seniors: Mikayla Domingo, Anaiah Christensen, and Reyson Agcaoili. These promising men and women received their checks from presenting sponsor Kauai Coffee at an award ceremony following the Roots ‘n Shoots Fun Run and Walk on April 2nd at the National Tropical Botanical Garden.
During the month of August, the Youth Running Program team from The Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon is visiting several elementary schools’ after school programs to talk about healthy choices, sportsmanship, and teamwork. The children then participate in relay races highlighting friendly competition and support. At the conclusion, each child receives a participant shirt, as well as a $5 off coupon to the Fourth Annual Kauai Marathon Keiki Run sponsored by Wilcox Health.
“This year we have had tremendous community support to further the Youth Running Program for future years” states McCandless. “It has been amazing to work with Kauai Coffee, Wilcox Health and The Kauai Marathon ‘ohana to make a positive impact on the youth community of Kauai.”
The culmination of the program this year is the Fourth Annual Kauai Marathon Keiki Run presented by Wilcox Health on Saturday, September 3rd and takes place on the far west side of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. Registration fees are $15 prior to August 29th and $20 thereafter. Each participant is guaranteed a medal and t-shirt if they pre-register before August 29th. On-site registration begins at 8:00 am on race day and the races start at 9:00 am. There is a 100-yard toddler trot for 2-4 year olds, a quarter-mile run for 5-7 year olds and a half-mile run for 8-12 year olds.
To register for The Kauai Marathon Keiki Run, please click here.