New York, May 10, 2017 – New York Road Runners (NYRR) today announced the registration launch of Rising New York Road Runners, its enhanced free youth fitness program, available at rising.nyrr.org. As demand has risen for accessible youth programming for students in New York City’s five boroughs and all over the country, NYRR has evolved its existing youth programs, including NYRR Mighty Milers and NYRR Young Runners, into a single, all-encompassing program to reach more students more effectively. All Rising New York Road Runners offerings will be provided free to schools, community centers, and participants.

“New York Road Runners has expanded the sport of running to people of all ages and all abilities, from young participants of our free youth programs to senior participants,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of NYRR. “After almost 20 years of NYRR programming in schools and community centers across the nation, we are excited to once again evolve our programs to better serve the communities we currently touch, expand our offerings to schools and community centers new to our programs, and grow the number of participants.”

During the 2016-2017 school year, more than 225,000 youth nationally—a record-breaking number—at over 1,300 schools and community centers from 48 states have participated in free NYRR youth running programs. Among those participants, more than 102,000 students are from New York City’s five boroughs.. With the launch of Rising New York Road Runners this fall, NYRR hopes to continue the expansion of its offerings to a greater number of developing runners at a greater range of ability levels.

The program, created by NYRR to instill kids with the skills and confidence to stay healthy and active for life, will focus on fostering fundamental movement and sport skills. Rising New York Road Runners aims to teach assurance and competence in young athletes, rather than reward top performances. Program leads will introduce age-appropriate skills as students grow, based on a timeline backed by the latest in physical education research.

The new approach is designed to build self-assurance, to inspire lasting healthy attitudes toward activity and fitness, and is rooted in the latest advancements in physical education research. Schools and community centers interested in introducing their students to the new program can register now for the 2017-2018 school year.

“Encouraging young people to grow into strong, confident runners is at the forefront of New York Road Runners’ mission to help and inspire people through running,” said Rachel Pratt, senior vice president of youth and community services of NYRR. “Our new curriculum is based on the benefits of physical literacy and is closely aligned with the standards of the Society of Health and Physical Educators. Much like the approaches for teaching subjects such as math and science, physical literacy aims to teach students new content in a format and order that will stick with the student well into adulthood.”  

Program leads at all Rising New York Road Runners sites will have access to an online activity database, making it simple to tailor lesson plans based on space, equipment, time available, and the students’ ages and abilities. The customized curriculum can be incorporated as part of the school’s PE classes, during recess, classroom breaks, or offered as an extracurricular enrichment program before or after school. As an added incentive for students and teachers, fun gear and other rewards will be provided to acknowledge special achievements and milestones, such as attendance.

In addition to NYRR youth running programs, over 50 free youth running events were held throughout the 2016-2017 school year for program participants and non-participants ranging in age from 2 to 18. Beyond providing instructional support to young athletes, NYRR is committed to offering program participants with the tools needed to lead healthy and active lives. During the 2016-2017 school year nearly 3,000 pairs of running shoes were distributed to students in need.

Please visit rising.nyrr.org for more information on Rising New York Road Runners, launching at thousands of schools and community centers across the country this fall.

Rising New York Road Runners is supported by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the Premier Partner of NYRR and NYRR youth programs and the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon; New Balance, the Official Athletic Footwear and Apparel Partner of NYRR; the New Balance Foundation; and the Fairway Community Foundation.

About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
Founded in 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, whose mission is to help and inspire people through running. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, community events, youth running initiatives, school programs, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit nyrr.org.