
2010 marks the 10th running of the GO! St. Louis Marathon and Family Fitness Weekend, Missouri’s largest fitness event. In addition to the full and half-marathon events, there are plenty of activities for families and kids to enjoy some fit fun in the (hopefully) sun.
The marathon, which takes place on Sunday, April 11, will be preceded by a day of family fitness events on Saturday, April 10 in Forest Park. At 9:15 area school children will participate in the Read, Right and Run Marathon®, launched in 2001 to develop reading proficient, physically fit and community minded children by challenging them to READ 26 books, RIGHT the community with 26 good deeds, and RUN 26.2 miles over a six-month period. Participating K-5 students will run their final 1.2 miles and the middle-schoolers will run a 5K (3.1 miles). More than 30,000 area students have accepted the challenge since the program was established.
A series of Childrens Fun Runs will begin at 10:15 a.m. at Cricket Field, featuring four different events for children, including a “Diaper Dash” for toddlers and three races for children ages two to 10, a 50-yard dash, 100 yard dash or half mile run. Kids enjoy the thrill of victory from completing a fitness goal. Each child receives an event t-shirt and commemorative finisher’s medal. In past years, nearly 300 children have participated in one of the four different distances.
For all of the weekend’s exciting fitness activities, visit www.gostlouis.org.
By Amy Burger, Events Blogger for SmartParenting
Amy Burger is a mom, freelance writer and communications professional with nearly 20 years experience working in St. Louis. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and media outlets including STL Parent, Missouri Life magazine, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Town & Style and kdhx.org, among others. When she's not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two beautiful girls at home in Kirkwood.
Enjoy live music, performance art, local food. a climbing wall, and hands-on activities for the whole family, as well as artists, aerial performers, educational exhibitors, diverse cuisine featuring local, organic, vegetarian and vegan options and more. Please bring your own bag to collect vendor information.
Take your family to watch birds of prey fly right over your head, meet the wonderful bird ambassadors of the World Bird Sanctuary up close and much more.
Don't be late for this very important date! The Fancy Tea Party at the St. Louis Carousel and The Butterfly House will have you feeling fancy and acting silly while enjoying tasty treats, delightful drinks, and fun crafts with Wonderland's most curious guest. Visitors can go in search of the while rabbit as adventure takes you through the gardens of The Butterfly House.
Science Tots is designed for children ages 18 to 36 months. The class provides opportunities to support brain development and learning. Toddlers and their grown-ups will explore STEM topics through songs, stories, hands-on exploration and play.
Explore the Saint Louis Zoo in the evenings at the Chinese lantern festival Animals Aglow! Animals Aglow returns to illuminate the Saint Louis Zoo for the second year with dozens of new, towering lanterns and light displays.