According to Kentucky Health News, Kentucky ranks 3rd in child obesity, a disease tied to a long list of other health issues; treatment requires changes in family lifestyle. On top of the growing rates of childhood obesity, families were forced to navigate through a pandemic. COVID-19 changed a lot of dynamics with families. Parents were reluctant to let their kids play outdoors in fear of them catching the virus. 

In an effort to get children in Madison County moving and consequently their whole family. The 4-H Agent created a run club that would meet once a week on Zoom. Each week the 4-H Agent prepared a lesson on the essentials of learning to run.  These lessons included the items needed for running such as comfortable shoes, proper clothing, different Apps to download to help track your running, hydration tips, and the proper nutrition needed for the body in preparation for physical activity.   This club also included several tips and recipes from the SNAP ED newsletters.  Each week we would end the meeting with a nutrition lesson and have the kids share what they ate that week to help their bodies. 

This class met virtually for four weeks and then two weeks they were assigned a physical activity to complete.  These meetings also served as an accountability group that the kids were very encouraging to one another. One of the benefits to this group was parents were invited to participate. We saw an increase in parent participation as they sat through the meetings with their kids, they asked questions along with their child, and said they ran with child.  

On top of the 4-H Run Club, we did have an accumulating event with 4-H hosting their first ever virtual 5k. The meetings were used to give tips on how to prepare for running a 5k using the Couch to 5k plan.  The parents and children had eight weeks to prepare and then run their own 5k together.  

The 4-H Run Club had ten members who participated.   Out of the ten, eight had no experience in running.  100% of the kids who participated recorded that they felt happier and less stress since they have been running.  100% of the kids who participated recorded that they have been going outdoors for more than 6 hours.  50% mentioned they have eaten more vegetables to help their bodies recover. 100% said this club was a place they could figure things out on their own and felt they could be a leader.