Rising New York Road Runners FAQ

Is Rising New York Road Runners available nationwide?

Yes, Rising New York Road Runners serves kids nationwide, including Puerto Rico.

What is the goal of Rising New York Road Runners?

Rising New York Road Runners gives all kids the opportunity to experience the transformative power of physical activity, so they have the ability, confidence and desire to be active for life.

What is the cost of Rising New York Road Runners?

There is no cost. Everything about Rising New York Road Runners is completely free.

What is Rising New York Road Runners Active at Home?

Rising New York Road Runners’ Active at Home is an online resource for families and teachers that provides free and fun fitness activities for kids to continue their physical education from home. The online resources provide full PE sessions and individual activity videos led by Olympic and Paralympic athletes, detailed instructions and photos for parents to help their kids with proper form, and an activity tracker.

Does Rising New York Road Runners offer programming for youth with physical disabilities?

Rising New York Road Runners Wheelchair Training Program is a free, seasonal program for youth with physical disabilities ages 6 to 21 in the New York City area. The program offers weekly training sessions, in-school resources, and competitive events on the road and track, regardless of experience or prior NYRR affiliation.

What is the history of New York Road Runners’ commitment to youth?

New York Road Runners has been developing and distributing free youth running and physical activity programs since 1999. We have grown our operations, streamlined our efforts, and increased our reach to serve students nationwide over the past 20+ years, while maintaining our no-cost model.

How does New York Road Runners provide Rising New York Road Runners for free?

Our unique nonprofit model, which teams contributions from corporate, foundation, and individual donors with earned income from our best-in-class events, enables us to provide all our youth services for free.

Who is Rising New York Road Runners best suited for?

The program is for youth ages pre-K through 12th grade of all abilities and skill levels.

Is Rising New York Road Runners appropriate for 3-K programs?

No.

How is Rising New York Road Runners managed at the school or out of school program?

The program is managed by a dedicated adult with off-site support from a New York Road Runners Youth Program Implementation Associate. This person is designated as the program lead and does not need to be a PE teacher; they can be any adult who is willing to implement and manage the program.

The program lead is the sole contact with the NYRR Youth Program Implementation Associate, but is encouraged to incorporate other staff and/or approved volunteers to lead sessions and do administration.

A dedicated NYRR Youth Program Implementation Associate is available via phone and email to support the program lead for the life of the program.

How/when do I apply?

Enrollment is open on a rolling basis.

The application opens in early April for the annual program cycle which begins in early August. You can run the program for as many weeks as you’d like.

Create an account and enroll.

I already have a track program. What is the advantage to adding Rising New York Road Runners?

Adding Rising New York Road Runners to an existing program can help with warm-ups, cool-downs, and working fundamental movement skills into your practice sessions that your kids can apply to running or any other sport.

As a teacher or school administrator, what are the ways I can implement Rising New York Road Runners?

You can incorporate Rising New York Road Runners whenever it’s best suited for you and your kids. Some sites incorporate it as part of PE, some use it to add structure to free recess periods, and some use it for quick, active classroom breaks.

What support does New York Road Runners provide?

You will be assigned a dedicated Youth Program Implementation Associate who is your go-to for anything you may need. Additionally, we will provide you with a host of digital tools to make implementation easy and fun.

Is there a minimum or maximum number of kids needed to enroll in Rising New York Road Runners?

No, there is no minimum or maximum number. The program is designed to be flexible for all group sizes, but we encourage you to get all youth in your school or out-of-school program involved.

How do I determine the most appropriate event for my child?

Our youth events are organized by level (stage). Refer to the stages chart on each youth event page to determine the appropriate stage for your child. Please note that not all stages are offered at all events.

Why are the youth events organized by stage?

Our youth events are organized by stage based on the level of physical activity, competitiveness, and the age of an individual participant. This means youth participate in events most appropriate for their skill level, which provides the best experience, so they want to continue to be active.

Is my child locked into the stage they register for at their first event?

No, you can register your child for a different stage at a subsequent event. Your child may participate in only one stage at any given event.

Are youth events inclusive of children with disabilities?

We welcome all young participants with disabilities, including those who benefit from using crutches, wheelchairs, and other mobility aids.

What will my child do at the youth event?

Most youth events include a mix of running and fun fitness activities. Check individual event pages close to the event date for a list of the activities.

What if my child just wants to run?

Our youth events include fitness activities to give kids exposure to physical activity and athletic development outside of running. We encourage kids to participate in all the activities, but if they want to just run, that’s fine. Please note, though, that some activities occur in the start corrals.

What's the cost of the youth events?

All of our youth events are free.

I live outside the U.S. Can I apply for Rising New York Road Runners?

Currently, only sites and schools based in the U.S. and Puerto Rico can apply for Rising New York Road Runners. You can still create an account to access our online resources, including videos, a series of lesson plans, and training plans to incorporate into your own program.

My school is on a U.S. military base outside of the U.S. Can I apply for Rising New York Road Runners?

Yes, if the school has an APO address, you are eligible to apply for Rising New York Road Runners.

I'm a parent and would like to start running with my child How can I get involved?

There are a few different ways:

Free Rising New York Road Runners races take place in New York City throughout the year. Find the next available race.

NYRR Open Run offers free weekly walks/runs in local neighborhood parks. Find the park closest to you.

Free resources that can be used at home are available on our website.

Visit the USA Track & Field website for a list of local track clubs across the country.

Who do I contact if I have other questions?

Please email us at risingnyrr@nyrr.org.