FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS — Jay Gladden, dean of the IU School of Physical Education and Tourism Management at IUPUI, will serve as the honorary starter for the Monumental Marathon Kids Fun Run on Saturday at the eighth annual Indianapolis Monumental Marathon.
The Kids Fun Run will start at Capitol Avenue and Washington Street at 8:30 a.m. About 100 children, age 10 and under, are expected to participate in the one-third-mile race.
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon is a not-for-profit organization created by a local group to develop a national destination marathon and half-marathon in downtown Indianapolis. Overall, more than 17,000 participants will run in one of four race options: the fun run, the 5K, the half-marathon and the marathon.
“The dean was selected to start the race to honor faculty in his school who take personal ownership of various components of our event,” said Blake Boldon, executive director of Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. “They have incorporated our event into their classes as learning opportunities.”
Under Gladden’s leadership, Boldon said, Physical Education and Tourism Management students volunteer more than 1,000 hours of “Jaguar Power” that goes into the community through marathon-related events as the organization and the school collaborate to educate Indianapolis youth about the benefits of exercise, proper diet and healthy living.
The IUPUI volunteers participate in a range of race-related activities, either on an individual basis or for a class. Nearly 100 students help IPS students prepare for the marathon. Cleaning a warehouse is also on the agenda, as well as coordinating the marathon’s social-media help center, developing the content for and staffing the marathon’s “Ask Me” stations, and handling a sales project.
“It’s just such a tremendous partnership with IUPUI,” Boldon said.
Gladden agreed, saying, “The partnership between the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon and IUPUI has grown significantly and productively.”