âIâm going to run,â Oaklee Sessums said, grinning.
She jokingly added she thought she could do the full 25 miles in five minutes.
Participating students across Lamar County have until May 24 to complete the full course, according to Education Programming Coordinator for the United Way of Lamar County Sabrina Rosson.
Sitting next to Oaklee on the picnic tables outside the Trail de Paris at Love Civic Center, Sessums said she thought sheâd work on her running through the barrels and posts at home, on a course set up for horse riding.
Approximately 150 of the 239 students who registered for the marathon came to the event to log their first mile, Rosson said, but they didnât have to be at the Trail de Paris on Monday to get started. A parent, guardian or teacher must sign off on the students progress log, she said.
Registration for the annual Kids Marathon opens today.
All Lamar County students in grades kindergarten through sixth are invited to participate. Students will run the first mile together on April 5, and the last 1.2 miles together on May 24 at the Trail de Paris. Students will run and log the rest of their miles on their own, and they will earn a race medal when finished.Â
The Kids Marathon is sponsored by Brookshire s, J. Skinner Bakery, Lamar/Delta County Medical Society, Pickle Printing and Print Works.Â
Klark Byrd is the managing editor of The Paris News. He can be reached at 903-785-6960 or klark.byrd@theparisnews.com.