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Community Corner

Healthy Kids Day Race at RVY Promises Dirty, Happy Kids

On April 26th, YMCAs across the county will celebrate Healthy Kids Day. Healthy Kids Day celebrates the notion that spring and summer is about kids getting active and outdoors. At Raritan Valley YMCA, this year’s event adds one more stipulation: it’s about kids getting dirty!

Obstacle course racing has surged in popularity, as people seek to put their fitness to the ultimate test. Events like Spartan Race, Tough Mudder and Warrior Dash push people to test their fitness over courses that span miles of mud, climbs, barbed wire, and more. They are known for leaving participants exhausted, covered in dirt, and extremely happy.

Popular obstacle course races are too grueling and difficult for a child to participate… until now. The Mini Mud Run at Raritan Valley YMCA will give kids the chance to romp through a course that is safe and achievable, but still promises plenty of fun obstacles (one tough load of laundry).

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Closely supervised by the YMCA staff, the mud run course will lead participants on an adventure that traverses the YMCA building, playground, and surrounding woods. Obstacles include an army crawl through the mud, tire obstacles, and physical training challenges.

The run is open to all ages, with three separate start times for each age group (ages 7 through 9, 10 through 12, and 13 through 16). There will even be a separate family course, allowing even younger kids to complete the course. Parents should accompany their kids (age 6 and under) on the family course.

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The course isn’t designed to be intimidating. It’s really about putting together a set of obstacles that are a lot of fun. The kids can challenge themselves, but anyone can finish if they just keep going.

Healthy Kids Day begins at 12 noon on Saturday, April 26th at Raritan Valley YMCa (144 Tices Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816). The celebration will have a carnival atmosphere, including music, food, sports, tug-of-war, and war. The mud run begins with the family course (age 6 and under) at 1:00 p.m. Other participants will warm up at 1:30 p.m. The 13-16 age group will run at 2:00 p.m., with the 10-12 age group at 2:20, and the 7-9 age group at 2:40. Price per participant is $16. Registration forms are available at RaritanValleyYMCA.org. Participants may sign-up in person on race day, if space permits. Participants should wear clothes that they don’t mind getting dirty!

Earlier in the day, parents are encouraged to attend an open house, featuring the YMCA’s day care and summer camp programs. The open house begins at 10 a.m. For more information about Raritan Valley YMCA, or the Healthy Kids Day celebration at RVY, visit RaritanValleyYMCA.org or call (732) 257-4114.
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