Press Releases

Running helps kids stay out of trouble. Program targets at risk teenagers

By Teddy Eismeier

For the Poughkeepsie Journal

A group of teens were up with the sun Monday morning, converging on the Poughkeepsie High School parking lot. They meet three times a week at 7:30 a.m. for a morning run, even with their summer vacation in full swing.

The teens are participants in the Marathon Project, a program that partners local youths with volunteer mentors to train to run a marathon. The Council on Addiction Prevention and Education, a local drug prevention group, helps coordinate the program.

Council Family Communications Coordinator Susanne O'Neill developed a program for Poughkeepsie after hearing about its success in other cities, including Los Angeles.

The program began nearly two decades ago in Los Angeles when a teacher challenged seven of his students to train for the L.A. marathon with him. Since then, similar programs have sprouted up across the United States.

A novel experiment.

Most of the teens had no running background before starting with the Marathon Project.

"They really exceeded their own expectations," Marathon Project mentor Judy Creedon said. "We started on the track, and all the kids were saying 'Do we really have to do a whole lap?' "

The group now runs up to nine miles for their morning sessions.

A core group of between 17 and 22 Poughkeepsie teens have been running with the group, O'Neill said. Between Poughkeepsie and the other Marathon Project groups in Beacon, around 60 teens have participated in the program this summer.

The Poughkeepsie group is preparing for their next milestone - the Dutchess County Classic. Marathon Project participants will run a half-marathon at the local road race, taking place Sept. 16 in Wappingers Falls.

The upcoming race has given the kids a sense of excitement as they apply what they've learned by preparing for a real event, Creedon said.

Marathon Project mentors said the program promotes good health and nutrition and the time commitment and discipline needed to train for a marathon brings about positive changes in the kids who participate.

"It's a wonderful combination of goal-setting and determination," Creedon said. "You have to have conviction. No one can run for you."

Douglas Stoneham, 13, said he was usually tired when it was time for their morning runs, but he was always glad he made it out of bed.

"You feel like you don't want to do it at first, but then you get there and it's worth it," Stoneham said.

Several participating teens said they've enjoyed the health benefits of long-distance running.

"I've been losing weight," Justice Paulin, 12, said. "It gets you in shape for other sports like baseball."

Dennis Rivera, 16, said he hadn't done much running before starting with the Marathon Project, but now he gets up early to run on his own time.

"It's surprising how much you can do," Rivera said. "I feel a sense of accomplishment."

Cathy Lane, another mentor who works as deputy director of the county's Office of Probation and Community Relations, said the teens who participate get a lot out of it.

"All of the adult runners are really encouraging," Lane said. "[The kids] work at their own pace."

Because of the program's incremental approach to running, the teens can see their improvement over time, Lane said.

"The youths that continue with the program gain a lot of self-confidence," she said.

The program's supporters view the Marathon Project as an opportunity to prevent drug abuse, gang participation and other destructive behaviors among teens.

Most of the teens who participate are classified as high risk for gang involvement, O'Neill said.

At the beginning and end of the program, participants complete evaluation tests intended to assess whether they are engaging in negative behaviors such as alcohol or drug use and gang participation.

O'Neill said the council is waiting until the end of the year to release the results of the evaluation tests given to participants.

Results from the pilot program in Los Angeles showed reduced incidence of school dropouts and gang participation, O'Neill said.

The Marathon Project has received funding and support from several county agencies, including the Dutchess County Youth Bureau as part of its anti-gang initiative.

Youth Bureau Director William Sanchez said programs like the Marathon Project help address issues affecting the area's youth, including gangs, drug use and child obesity.

"We try to promote positive programming for kids at a high risk," Sanchez said. "We want get them involved in activities that promote good decision-making and surround them with healthy adults."

Creedon said the program's organizers hope the lessons learned from running will carry over into the teens' daily activities and help them steer clear of problem behavior.

"We want this to translate to every day experience - for them to get outside of their comfort zone, be able to evaluate themselves and make good decisions," Creedon said.

For information about the Marathon Project or how to get involved as a mentor, contact Susanne O'Neill at the CAPE office, 845-471-0194.

Reach Teddy Eismeier at teismeie@poughkee.gannett.com or 845-451-4599.