ING Kids Rock San Diego Recap
by Andy Baldwin on Friday, June 10, 2011 at 1:01am
The Sea World parking lot in San Diego was abuzz early morning on Saturday, June 4. Close to TWO THOUSAND children, wearing bright orange shirts, and sporting orange shoe laces were arriving by the busloads eagerly awaiting their turn to run in the inaugural ING Kids Rock 1 mile fun run.
As they filed off the buses that morning, the majority of these kids had no idea the legends of the sport of running that they were about to meet, as well as a tribute from a television star about the way that being active changed his life forever. San Diego provided the perfect chance to assemble Congressman and Olympic star Jim Ryun, NYC marathon champion and fellow Olympian Rod Dixon, and singer/TV personality Dan Evans from the Biggest Loser. One of my favorite moments at San Diego ING Kids Rock took place before the running even began. Observing these incredible role models surrounded by a sea of orange, full of smiles, energy, both kinetic and potential, made me grin from ear to ear.
Suddenly I felt a tug at my shirt and when I looked down I saw a young 1st grader asking me if I would sign his shirt. His mother handed me a pen, and I signed my John Hancock. Well this started quite a trend and not a minute had gone by until all four of us were signing the shirts. The kids were incredibly excited. One little girl told me she was going to hang her t-shirt above her bed forever. Awesome! Rod, Jim, and Dan were beaming as well, and you could just feel the love that these people have for mentoring youth to learn, grow, succeed, and most importantly- RUN.
I thought the wave starts of the different grade levels for the 1-mile run went incredibly well. The volunteers that came out to help with the event did a fabulous job, and the parents were smiling just as much as we were. Many of the parents had their cameras out to capture their child's start and finish of their first running race ever. For most of these kids, they were about to do something their parents still have never done. Starting young, instilling a sense of confidence in these kids, that they can have a goal and finish it. They can toe the line, be nervous and make it through to get their medal. And even this first tiny race they do in ING Kids Rock undoubtedly will help set them on a course to take on many of life's future challenges and tests.
It doesn't matter if it is a 5th grader or a pre-schooler out there on the course. With each wave of kids that goes through, if you look closely at some of the children coming toward the finish line you are able to witness the phenomenon of change from "i can't" to "i can" in a child's physical and emotional display. You can literally see the mental *switch* occur when the child see's the finish line, hears the crowd cheering for THEM, and realizes they can do something great. They have the ability.
My favorite part of ING Kids Rock is to be at the finish line slapping kids five as they cross the line. Sometimes I will jog out when I see some of the last few kids coming in, many of them walking with their head sunken, and on the verge of tears. I like to take their hand, get the crowd cheering, provide some encouragement and say "let's run!" and see the child rise up and their entire demeanor change- frown to smile, sullen to tall, and walk to run proudly across the line.
More times than not, the first thing they say to me after getting their medal is "Dr. Andy, that was fun! when is the next run?" Which to me means- I have confidence.I can take on what life throws at me and succeed. I am capable of amazing things.
Thanks Jim, Rod, Dan, Tracy, Catharine, Suzanne, Meghan, and all others at CGI and ING for making this happen and allowing me to be a part of it. Special thanks to Bonnie Bernstein from ESPN for coming to support the event. 2000 children left last Saturday healthier, more confident, and full of joy. This is our future. Good going. Now for all of those reading this, get your kids out there to an ING Kids Rock race! See you there :)
http://ingkidsrock.competitor.com/
www.orangelaces.com
As they filed off the buses that morning, the majority of these kids had no idea the legends of the sport of running that they were about to meet, as well as a tribute from a television star about the way that being active changed his life forever. San Diego provided the perfect chance to assemble Congressman and Olympic star Jim Ryun, NYC marathon champion and fellow Olympian Rod Dixon, and singer/TV personality Dan Evans from the Biggest Loser. One of my favorite moments at San Diego ING Kids Rock took place before the running even began. Observing these incredible role models surrounded by a sea of orange, full of smiles, energy, both kinetic and potential, made me grin from ear to ear.
Suddenly I felt a tug at my shirt and when I looked down I saw a young 1st grader asking me if I would sign his shirt. His mother handed me a pen, and I signed my John Hancock. Well this started quite a trend and not a minute had gone by until all four of us were signing the shirts. The kids were incredibly excited. One little girl told me she was going to hang her t-shirt above her bed forever. Awesome! Rod, Jim, and Dan were beaming as well, and you could just feel the love that these people have for mentoring youth to learn, grow, succeed, and most importantly- RUN.
I thought the wave starts of the different grade levels for the 1-mile run went incredibly well. The volunteers that came out to help with the event did a fabulous job, and the parents were smiling just as much as we were. Many of the parents had their cameras out to capture their child's start and finish of their first running race ever. For most of these kids, they were about to do something their parents still have never done. Starting young, instilling a sense of confidence in these kids, that they can have a goal and finish it. They can toe the line, be nervous and make it through to get their medal. And even this first tiny race they do in ING Kids Rock undoubtedly will help set them on a course to take on many of life's future challenges and tests.
It doesn't matter if it is a 5th grader or a pre-schooler out there on the course. With each wave of kids that goes through, if you look closely at some of the children coming toward the finish line you are able to witness the phenomenon of change from "i can't" to "i can" in a child's physical and emotional display. You can literally see the mental *switch* occur when the child see's the finish line, hears the crowd cheering for THEM, and realizes they can do something great. They have the ability.
My favorite part of ING Kids Rock is to be at the finish line slapping kids five as they cross the line. Sometimes I will jog out when I see some of the last few kids coming in, many of them walking with their head sunken, and on the verge of tears. I like to take their hand, get the crowd cheering, provide some encouragement and say "let's run!" and see the child rise up and their entire demeanor change- frown to smile, sullen to tall, and walk to run proudly across the line.
More times than not, the first thing they say to me after getting their medal is "Dr. Andy, that was fun! when is the next run?" Which to me means- I have confidence.I can take on what life throws at me and succeed. I am capable of amazing things.
Thanks Jim, Rod, Dan, Tracy, Catharine, Suzanne, Meghan, and all others at CGI and ING for making this happen and allowing me to be a part of it. Special thanks to Bonnie Bernstein from ESPN for coming to support the event. 2000 children left last Saturday healthier, more confident, and full of joy. This is our future. Good going. Now for all of those reading this, get your kids out there to an ING Kids Rock race! See you there :)
http://ingkidsrock.competitor.com/
www.orangelaces.com
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