The young people in our We Run This City youth marathon program completed their first run of the 2025 Run Season early last month at the Chili Bowl Run in downtown Cleveland. We had five schools and more than 60 runners participate! Next, they ran at the 2025 St. Malachi Church Run on March 15. There will be more runs leading up to the goal: the 2025 Cleveland Marathon.
Dedicated to empowering young minds and bodies, the Y’s We Run This City Youth Marathon Program (WRTC) is more than just a running program. WRTC is a transformative journey designed to instill goal-setting skills and foster a sense of belonging within the vibrant Cleveland running community.
While the thrill of crossing the finish line at the Cleveland Marathon marks a significant achievement, it's merely the start of what WRTC offers. Participants emerge from the program with a newfound confidence and a toolkit of resilience skills that serve them far beyond the track.
Spanning 12 to 22 weeks, WRTC operates within schools, where dedicated teams are formed and led by teachers or volunteer coaches, with invaluable support from YMCA coaches. These mentors guide students through the program, coordinating practices, managing paperwork, and ensuring attendance at key pre-race events, including kickoffs, conditioning clinics and practice races.
Central to WRTC's success is a comprehensive training schedule, tailored to each participant's abilities and supplemented with essential nutrition guidance. Regardless of athletic background, every student is welcomed into the program with the understanding that personal growth and achievement are the ultimate goals, not competition.
WRTC stands as a collaborative effort between the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and the Warrensville Heights City Schools District. Together, we are committed to nurturing the potential within each young person and equipping them with the skills they need to thrive both on and off the track.