RunFit Kidz Club

RunFit Kidz is a fun, non-competitive co-ed program for mixed age students of all fitness levels. The program is designed to introduce a passion for fitness and running in a supportive group environment with emphasis on the proper mechanics of running, nutrition/hydration, pacing, and personal goal-setting. Each class session will include dynamic warm-ups, strength training, running technique activities and drills, cool-down stretching, and plenty of games, such as relays. The program is designed to help emerging runners build incremental endurance over 8 weeks, and the group’s accomplishments are celebrated with a 5K (3 mile) celebration fun run/walk.

Ages/Eligibility
  • RunFit Kidz Club is for homeschooled students in grades 1-8 (ages 6-14).
  • Participants are not required to be enrolled at Compass. Youth from the homeschool community at-large are welcome to participate. (additional activity fee applies)
  • Compass parents may sign up and participate alongside their child.
  • Younger siblings, ages 4-5 may participate if a parent or sibling age 12+ is enrolled.
  • For insurance and liability reasons, un-enrolled children, including siblings, may not spontaneously “jump in” or tag along with the group despite its meeting at a public park.
Meetings
  • Weekly on Wednesdays, for eight weeks starting on September 25.
  • Meets from 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm
  • The club will meet at the Haley M. Smith Park at 324 Van Buren Street, Herndon, VA 20170, located 0.6 miles (2 minute drive) from Compass.
Program
  • RunFit Kidz (RFK) started in the Springfield area in 2012 and hosted running programs at Compass in 2013-2016. RunFit Kidz now is affiliated with Potomac River Running.
  • The Compass RFK team will be coached by a veteran athlete/coach. Gary Wrightman is a lifelong runner who has run hundrers of races ranging from the 800 and mile to marathons including qualifying for Boston multiple times. Coach Wrightman explained, “My training philosophy is to challenge ourselves while having fun doing it.” His coaching experience includes training adults and kids in running and soccer for more than ten years.
  • RunFit Kidz is a 75-minute weekly program. Each weekly session includes:
    • Warm-Up (10-15 minutes)
    • Health Topic & Muscle Group-of-the-Week (15-20 minutes, varies with length of the run),
    • Run (30-40 minutes, increases each week)
    • Stretching and Cool Down.
  • Participants will earn tokens to track their running progress. They will earn a RFK token after running 1 miles, 5 miles, 10 miles, 13.1 miles, 15 miles, and 20 miles (weekly cummulative).
  • RunFit Kidz is not competitive. Participants celebrate achieving their own milestones and are always welcome to walk when they can no longer run.
Participate
  • Compass runners (including participating students, sibings, and parents) must pay a program fee of $110.00 to Compass for eight (8) weeks of coaching
  • Non-Compass runners must pay a program fee of $125.00 to Compass which includes eight (8) weeks of coaching and a non-Compass student activity fee.
  • All runners must pay a supply fee of $30.00 to RunFit Kidz to cover weekly incentive tokens, training supplies/equipment, a Compass team race t-shirt, entry fee, race bib, race refreshments, and completion medal.
  • Runners can sign up on the Compass Activity Fee webpage.
  • Participation fees cannot be prorated for runners who enroll after the start of the program.
5K Race
  • A fall 5K fun race will be held for RFK at Fairfax Corner on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at 8:00 am.
  • Parents, siblings, and friends can register to participate in the 5K along with their RFK participant even if they have not completed the RFK program. The registration fee is $45.00 for race entry and commemorative t-shirt or $30.00 entry only.
Additional Notes
  • Each week, two Compass parents are needed to volunteer at the park to be spotters for the group as they run.
  • Participants must wear appropriate athletic clothing including running shoes. Students may not wear sandals, flip-flops, slides, or crocs.
  • Participants must bring a water bottle to each workout.
  • It is recommended that participants eat something before their work-out like a granola bar or half-sandwich. Running on an empty stomach or after a large, heavy meal is not recommended.