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  • Locations
    • French Creek (Avon)
    • Garrettsville
    • Geauga (Chardon)
    • Hillcrest (Lyndhurst)
    • Lakewood
    • North Royalton
    • Parker Hannifin Downtown
    • Vermilion
    • Warrensville Heights
    • West Park-Fairview
    • West Shore (Westlake)
  • Youth Development
    • Winter Break Camp
    • Y Cares
    • Camp >
      • Day Camp
      • Fine Arts Camp
      • Sports Camp
    • Child Care >
      • YMCA Preschool
      • BASE >
        • Grant BASE
    • Youth Sports
    • Community Youth Services
    • We Run This City - Youth Marathon Program
    • Adventure Guides
  • Healthy Living
    • Virtual Programming
    • YMCA LIVE
    • Aquatics
    • Group Exercise
    • Personal Training
    • Health & Wellness Programs >
      • Blood Pressure Monitoring
      • Diabetes Prevention
      • LiveSTRONG at the Y
      • Real You
    • Active Older Adults
  • Social Responsibility
    • Community Impact
    • Y Haven
  • Y Stories
  • About
    • COVID-19 POLICIES
    • Our Mission & History
    • Our Impact
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Media Coverage
    • Press Releases
    • Leadership
    • FAQ
  • Careers
  • GIVE
  • Join
    • Corporate Payroll Deduct
    • Membership Benefits and Categories
    • Financial Assistance
    • Member Referral
    • Gift Cards

YMCA of Greater Cleveland

WE RUN THIS CITY 
Youth Marathon program

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The We Run This City Youth Marathon Program (WRTC) strives to teach young people to set and achieve goals by preparing them to run in the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. But crossing the finish line is just the beginning! Students leave the program with greater self-confidence and enhanced youth resiliency skills.

About the Program:
WRTC is a 12 to 22 week program where individual teams are formed at schools and are led by teachers or volunteer coaches with assistance from YMCA coaches. The teachers/coaches are responsible for scheduling practices, submitting extensive paperwork and ensuring that their teams attend pre-race events (kickoff, conditioning clinic and practice races). WRTC offers the students a training schedule (which includes a nutrition component) that allows them to cover the distances necessary to be prepared to run in the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. A WRTC student does not have to be an athlete to participate in this program. Our goal for each student is completion rather than competition. ​WRTC is a collaboration between the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Metropolitan School District and the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon

Forming a Team
  • Individual teams are formed within Cleveland Metropolitan School District and are led by teachers, volunteer coaches, YMCA coaches and peer mentors.
  • The teachers/coaches are responsible for scheduling practices, submitting the necessary paperwork, tack the student's conditioning, and ensuring all students attend required pre-race events.
  • ​A We Run This City student does not have to be an athlete to become a participant in this program. Our goal for each student is completion rather than competition.
Thank you to our supporters:​
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
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Sponsor a Team!
Students do not pay to participate in the program. The shoes, T-shirts, medals and race fees are provided for free to every participant. Program staff undertake continued fundraising efforts to fully support the students. Thanks to the support of the program's corporate and private philanthropic communities who recognize the value, We Run This City Youth Marathon Program has continued to serve Cleveland for 12 years.
​Volunteer 
Volunteers are the heart of We Run This City's mission. Volunteer opportunities include:
  • Assistant Coaches
  • Team Managers
  • Race day registration
  • T-Shirt/goody bag distribution
  • Refreshments
  • Runners, Pacers, Sweepers
  • Traffic Control
  • Cheering Squads
  • Water Stops
  • Finish Line​
Learn more! 
Contact: Cheree Carpenter
ccarpenter@clevelandymca.org
Alan Armstrong
aarmstrong@clevelandymca.org


LOCATIONS

Parker Hannifin Downtown
French Creek (Avon)
Garrettsville
Geauga (Chardon)
Hillcrest (Lyndhurst)
Lakewood
North Royalton
Vermilion
Warrensville Heights
West Park-Fairview
​
West Shore (Westlake)

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