Miler in Training: Allied Running Club

New for 2021: Fleet Feet has passed the baton to Tri 4 Schools for this awesome training program! 

Please visit tri 4 schools for volunteer opportunities

We help kids train for a goal race at the end of summer and learn about their bodies and the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle. Read more about the program and its history below!  

Running provides a space to challenge oneself, feel proud, and plug into positive groups of people who help each other.  The Allied Drive neighborhood is one of Madison's most under-resourced and diverse communities. It is common for residents to have limited access to employment, health care, childcare and transportation. Allied has the highest concentration of in need families in the county, and 1/4 of its 1,350 children live in poverty. This is a neighborhood with well-documented challenges in regard to health, crime, drugs and safety.  Just think what running can do in such a context, creating a space of joy, pride & independence in the summer world of 4^th-9^th graders.

The Miler-in-Training program was created by Jessica Anderson, co-owner of Fleet Feet Madison, her brother Matt Groose & his wife, Molly Groose in 2008. 

In addition to running, this training program includes a health education component and is specifically targeted for kids. During the program, kids learn about health-related topics ranging from nutrition to the human body and completed running workouts to prepare them for their lap based goal race. The final race is organized and directed by Race Day Events, LLC., owner Ryan Griessmeyer with support from Fleet Feet and MSCR. Thirteen children completed the program in 2009 and fifteen children completed the program in 2010.  This number has more than doubled, allowing for more and more children to participate and achieve success!

Funding:

It truly takes a village to raise an athlete.  Fleet Feet Madison is committed to procuring funds to continue this life-changing program and is deeply grateful to all the organizations that have contributed to giving these kids the summer of their lives!   Thank you to each of you who contributed with your time and energy as volunteers!

Recently, Allied Running Club received a  grant from Madison Area Sports Commission to allow us to continue to provide quality equipment to the beginning athletes.  Fleet Feet Madison is also donating $5 from every registration fee from all of their training programs to the Miler-In-Training:  Allied Running Club.  Thank you to the Madison Area Sports Commission (MASC) for the continued support to Allied Running Club. Fleet Feet Madison's Allied Running Club works with youth participating in MSCR's Malborough Park program.

Make Your Own Contribution:

You can also make your own contribution to Allied Running Club by making your check out to Fleet Feet Madison with Allied Running Club in the memo line or donating online through registration for one of our training programs.  You can mail your check to Fleet Feet Madison, 8440 Old Sauk Road, Middleton, WI 53562

Young Athletes’ Equipment:

Proceeds pay for the shoes and work out gear for each of the kids participating in the program. In an under-resourced community like Allied, the fact that the children are properly fit for and provided their own, new pair of Brooks shoes to use during the program is a highly motivating factor.  The students can earn their shoes to keep by staying committed to the program and participating in the goal race.  The shoes, team shirts, shorts, socks and water bottles, that are issued to them for their practices, ensure that these beginning youth runners have the appropriate equipment needed to succeed in their new sport.  The certificates of achievement and race medals ensure that they know how important it is to stay committed to a goal.  As a volunteer or donor, you could help children find a place where they are encouraged, challenged, and rewarded for hard work, which will build a foundation for the rest of their lives…and help them get a quality pair of running shoes in the process!