Hello outdoor enthusiasts!

This year’s Father’s Day weekend marked our first annual Tri 4 Schools Fun Run! An event not just for kids, but for the whole family. On the morning of Saturday, June 16th, we set out to the site of our event – Warner Park, home of the Madison Mallards. Before the races began, our wonderful Tri 4 Schools arrived to help set-up for the race. They registered participants, set up the 1mile walk and 5k run courses, and helped get families excited for the race. What would we ever do without them?

The event attracted 180 people out to the Duck Pond! There were a wide variety of participants, ranging from individuals seeking a competitive Saturday workout to families pushing strollers – all dedicating their time and money to raise funds to encourage kids’ healthy lifestyles. The sense of community was both overwhelming and inspiring.

One of the highlights of the event was presenting checks to two local schools for their participation in the May 5th Waunakee Kids Triathlon. One of these schools, Arboretum Elementary School, had 41 kids participate! These students raised $700 for their school, and won this year’s “Fittest Trophy” for having the highest number of participants.

Receiving a bobblehead for winning her age group – blister and all! Man these kids are tough!

Lindbergh Elementary School on Madison’s North side had 34 children participate in the Waunakee triathlon, the third-highest participating school.  Nearly 80% of Lindbergh’s students qualify for free or reduced lunch, which is the second-largest amount in Dane County.  These children earned nearly $1,000 for their physical education programs! Way to rock the healthy lifestyle Lindbergh!

Lindbergh’s principal, P.E. teacher, and Waunakee participants received the check before joining in last Saturday’s Fun Run.

The morning rain held off through registration and the check presentation, but mother nature decided to cool off our runners/walkers with a quick shower out on the course! Not to worry though, after finishing the race participants gathered under shelter in the Duck Pond to enjoy Gatorade, bagels, hotdogs and hamburgers. Best of all – everyone who stayed after the race witnessed or participated in our award ceremony and raffle. There were some great prizes!

Receiving a bobblehead for winning her age group – blister and all! Man these kids are tough!

Overall, our first annual Fun Run was a success! Families bonded over time together on Father’s Day weekend,  athletes challenged them themselves in trying to beat their best 5k time, and our volunteers spent a Saturday morning giving back to the community. A great atmosphere and for an even better cause. Looking forward to next year already!

Stay cool and stay active!