Young runners gear up for youth marathon

To spread sports culture among young children, the Istanbul Children's Marathon will be held on May 10 at the Maltepe City Park with the participation of 5,000 children up to 14 years of age. Children under three will run and walk 100 meters with their parents and children aged four and five will complete 200 meters. Children aged six and seven will run 400 meters and those aged eight to 10 will be run 600 meters. Children over 10 will run 1 kilometer at the park. There will be a special 100-meter race that will include children with Down syndrome to raise public awareness of their condition. Prior to the marathon, informative training on marathon awareness and sports culture will be provided for children as well as their parents as part of the scheduled event. Written by sports academics, a children's marathon's preparation program for children aged eight to 14 is available on the official website of Spor A.Ş., the event organizer and the sports enterprise of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. A real marathon atmosphere will be created for children and a sponge and water station along the route will be available. Children aged six to 14 will be accompanied by guide runners throughout the races. Applications for the marathon can be made online at the event's official website, istanbulcocukmaratonu.org, until the end of April. The marathon will also mark Mother's Day and World Athletics Day with posters at the finish line saying, "Welcome Champion" and "Give your first medal to your mother on Mother's Day." Participants will be given certificates and various gifts. There will also be different areas where parents can do sports and spend a an enjoyable day with their children. Entertainment activities for little runners will be available, too. The municipal enterprise encourages children to participate in sports activities through regular events. It believes that raising public awareness of sports culture in society is possible by instilling sports habits in children at very young ages.