CARA Road Scholars

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The Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) is a non-profit, 501(c) 3 organization whose mission is dedicated to expanding, motivating, supporting and celebrating the running community of Chicagoland. CARA connects runners to resources that enable them to run – farther, faster, better, for life. Founded in 1978, CARA began as a membership association designed to provide advocacy for runners. As the sport of running grew, the organization began offering enhanced programming, including educational clinics, training programs, race events, and more comprehensive resources. Today, CARA is the third largest running association in the United States with just over nine thousand members. The programs offered at CARA include: membership benefit programs, training programs for all levels of runners from beginning to advanced, Road scholars high school youth running programs, advocacy programs designed to provide quality races and safe conditions for runners, web and print running resource information, and runners’ reward programs for racing and participation.

The running population has changed dramatically in the thirty years that CARA has been in existence. More adults are enjoying the sport of recreational running and the number of runners who complete longer distances, such as half or full marathons, continues to grow annually. Running has been proven to provide many benefits to health and longevity, including weight loss/maintenance and lowered risk of heart disease, hypertension and cancers, as well as mental and emotional benefits.

Within the same timeframe, the population of the United States has become increasingly unhealthy as evidenced by increased rates of obesity and Type II diabetes. Although adults may have the motivation and resources to address their health problems, many children do not. The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, with 1 out of 3 kids now considered overweight or obese. Many kids are spending less time exercising and more time in front of the TV, computer, or video-game console. And today's busy families have fewer free moments to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals. From fast food to electronics, quick and easy is the reality for many people in the new millennium.

Preventing kids from becoming overweight means adapting the way they eat and exercise, and the activities they take part in during their free time. Helping kids’ lead healthy lifestyles begins with parents/role models and the community who lead by example. With our success in developing adult running programs, the CARA Board of Directors and Staff chose to develop a strategy to bring a youth running initiative to Chicago and with the help of the Springboard Foundation; the CARA Road Scholars was born.

CARA Road Scholars is an innovative intervention program that challenges teens to train for and complete a 13.1 mile half marathon. The program is based on a long running and highly successful program that began in Los Angeles in 1989 – Students Run LA (SRLA). More than 20,000 young people, most who come from urban areas with social disadvantages, have participated in SRLA. Not only have 90% of them completed the entire race – more than 95% of those who crossed the finish line have gone on to graduate from high school. The students who participated in the Road Scholars last year not only saw dramatic improvements in their health and wellness; they saw a complete turnaround in their self esteem and prospects for the future. The results were truly astounding and we cannot wait to bring this program to more students this year!

The official launch of our pilot program was in the spring of 2008 at one location in Chicago, Rickover Naval Academy, which continues to serve a broad based student population. Rickover, located on the city’s northwest side, consists of a very diverse group of students both ethnically and economically. Rickover is an 80.5% free or reduced lunch facility with an ethnic breakdown of 12% Caucasian, 63% Hispanic, 22% African American and 3% Asian student population. Over 30 students took part in our inaugural program the first year and in the second year 96 students signed up. This year the program has 57 students signed so far and recruitment is still in progress. We anticipate 75 registrants.

In 2009, CARA brought on Phoenix Military Academy (PMA) located on the city’s west-side. PMA has demographics of 39% African American and 57% Hispanic and 4% other. 98% of the students are classified as low-income. The schools mission is to develop young people to become citizens of leadership with character and vision for our nation. PMA’s small school setting enables teachers to build personal and positive connections with students equipping them for competitive summer opportunities, highly selective college admittance, and future career endeavors. PMA integrates Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) and a team-based, problem-solving approach within an innovative core academic program, which empowers youth with a well-rounded education to instill self-confidence, promote teamwork, and provide leadership skills so cadets become lifelong learners and positive change agents in their communities.

This year we are keeping with our goal of expanding the program to a third school, Marine Military Academy High. CPS Marine Military Academy is a small high school providing structure, discipline, academics, sports, and military events to prepare our young men and women not only for postsecondary education but to be great leaders and citizens. Marine’s demographics are made up of 53% Hispanic and 41% Black. The school has 321 students and 86.9% come from low income households. Recruitment efforts are underway at this new location.

Our programmatic goal, since the launch of CARA’s Road Scholars program, is to grow to serve 350 students from schools who’s mission fit perfectly with the CARA Road Scholars objective, to provide a youth running program designed to challenge students to experience the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health by providing them with a truly life changing experience: Training for and completing the Rock-N-Roll Chicago Half Marathon! We are on track and well positioned to be successful in this endeavor because of program delivery experience, credibility in the marketplace, our supportive back office process and our extensive volunteer/mentor population.

CARA unites dedicated adult volunteers with high school students to successfully complete the Rock'n'Roll Chicago Half Marathon. CARA requires that students meet the age requirements (be at least 14 years old), make a commitment to regularly attend training sessions, pass a health screening, and attend the participating schools (Rickover Naval Academy, Phoenix Military Academy & Marine Military Academy). Adult mentors are previous marathon runners screened for their ability to be a good role model with a positive attitude toward life as well as their desire to “pay forward” the lessons of running.

Students and mentors meet 2-3 times per week at organized group runs, both after school and on weekends. Over the course of eighteen weeks, adult mentors and their teen develop their endurance to conquer ever-increasing distances.

CARA Road Scholars have reported the following benefits:
• Improved self esteem and self confidence
• Positive adult role models
• Enhanced overall fitness and healthy lifestyle
• Improved academic performance and study habits
• Positive relationships with peers, mentors, and the running community

Benefits to Mentors are reported as:
• Improved health
• Enhanced sense of “community”
• Goal accomplishment
• Rewarding relationships that last beyond the finish line
• Motivation to finish the half marathon on behalf of our Road Scholars

The running journey itself and the final finish line will forever change the lives of our CARA Road Scholars. With such a great accomplishment comes a better understanding of the self, and a greater sense of purpose and possibility.

CARA covers all the logistics, program management, and costs associated with training and race entry fees. This includes technical clothes and shoes that serve as incentives for the kids, transportation to and from schools and to and from the training sites, race entries into events, post-run refreshments and administrative support for the program. More importantly, CARA provides our volunteers and students with the technical expertise, support and encouragement that they need to reach their goal. Our ultimate goal is to challenge students to experience the benefits of discipline, self-esteem and confidence, character development, and improved health by providing them with an adult mentor and the best running experience to realize their full potential.

We hope that YOU will support the CARA Road Scholars this year and continue to change the way Chicago runs; moving together to accomplish a great goal; farther, faster, better, for life.

Sincerely,

Kristina Olkowski
CARA Road Scholars Director

Our Students Don’t Run To Forget Who They Are…

They Run To Become Who They Want To Be!