March 16, 2020

Dear iRun4Life family and friends,

During this time of confusion, school closings, and activities being suspended, we are all advised to wash our hands often and keep a safe distance from others. With our kids home for several weeks, we are challenged to find things they can do to stay busy and active. As you know, there are so many benefits to exercise – physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s so important to give your kids (and you) time to de-stress and exercise.  https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/exercise.html
 
Below are some creative exercise ideas to help keep your children (and you) busy and healthy. They are all free and can all be done at home. If weather permits, please try to be outside in the fresh air.
 
  1. Remember those cool iRun4Life jump ropes we gave out at last year’s 3K Race? Go find them and start jumping rope – in your driveway or garage.
  2. Create a family obstacle course in your backyard. Jump over rocks, use a ladder for agility moves, throw a tennis ball through a tire, use a hula hoop, etc.
  3. Play your favorite music playlist and dance.
  4. Set up fun relay races – at the end of each sprint relay, do 5 jumping jacks, or sit ups …
  5. Do wheel barrel or crab walk races or play red light/green light.
  6. Go for a family bike ride.
  7. Set up a timed zone circuit – 1 minute for each exercise, then do the whole circuit 3 times – run in place, wall sits, push-ups, jump rope, sit ups, jumping jacks, planks, arm circles, leg lifts, etc.
  8. Go to a local park and take a walk/run with your family. Or run around the block 5-10 times.
  9. Play hopscotch, basketball, hide-and-seek, have a baseball catch, or play soccer in your backyard.
  10. Make a family scavenger-hunt game – make clues, hide things in your backyard, and try to find them. Then, run from one clue to the next. Be creative!
  11. Yoga! There are a lot of YouTube yoga videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X655B4ISakg
 
Staying active is so important. Please know that we will try our best to have our iRun4Life Kids Only 3K Race on Sunday, May 17. We will update you as the days and virus progresses. We are hopeful, but realistic. As always, your health and safety are our number one priority. And please follow us on Facebook and Instagram (#irun4lifekids) as we will be posting fun exercise tips, as well as race updates.
Thank you very much. Be safe and healthy.
 
Best,
Judy and the iRun4Life Board
"Celebrating Youth Fitness Through Running"
P.O. Box 234, Doylestown, PA 18901