More than 800 young people from across metro Detroit and beyond will hit the pavement over the next month to run or walk most of a marathon.
They’ll log 25.2 miles by Friday, Oct. 17, before running the final mile the next day and reaching the finish line along the Detroit Riverwalk.
The students are part of the Kids Marathon presented by Priority Health, now in its third year for youth ages 6 to 13, as part of the 49th Detroit Free Press Marathon.
Since the Kids Marathon started in 2024, students at Detroit Public Schools Community District have been a big part of the event. About 400 students from eight DPSCD schools are taking part this year, up from 250 in 2024 and 300 in 2025.
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Of the eight participating schools, Golightly Education Center, John R. King and Davison Elementary-Middle School are returning for a third year, while Mark Twain School for Scholars and Bates Academy are joining for second straight year. Academy of the Americas, Edmonson Montessori Elementary and Fisher Magnet Upper Academy are participating for the first time.
Each DPSCD student receives a free pair of running shoes and registration for the Kids Marathon. On Sept. 17 and 18, 50 students from each school were fitted for new running shoes that will be delivered in October.
Osbaldo Camarena, a fourth grader at the Academy of the Americas, is working with his family to prepare for the race by walking around a school near his house, a route the 9-year-old said is about a half mile long.
"I think we're gonna run or do laps, maybe stretch a bit and have water breaks," he said.
Laila Overton, a seventh grader at Mark Twain School for Scholars, will be running the event for the first time. Laila, 12, and her family moved from Tennessee to Detroit in June. She said she'll use the opportunity to see more of her new hometown.
Amor Johnson, 13 and in eighth grade at Mark Twain, plans to run laps at soccer practice to clock in 25.2 miles.
By completing the Kids Marathon, the young people are joining an elite group, Aaron Velthoven, vice president and race director of the Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union, told students at Mark Twain on Thursday.
“Do you know how many people have run a marathon across the world? Do you know the percentage of people who have done it ...,” he asked students at Mark Twain. “Less than 1% of the population have run a marathon in the world. You’re going to join that group with what you’re about to do. You are that special.”
Camarena took off his Nike Air Force 1s and tried on a pair of running shoes for the marathon during a shoe fitting on Thursday. He ran in place to test them out.
"I like them a lot," Osbaldo said. "They're nice and roomy."
DeSeana Clark, an eighth grader at Mark Twain, is eager to run the event again. After last year's race, DeSeana, 13, said she underestimated how long it would take to run the final mile.
DeSeana, who still has her shoes from last year, will get a second pair, which she's thankful for as it helps her family.
"My sibling also does sports, so it's better because we don't have to buy two pairs of shoes," she said.
Leaders from the marathon, Priority Health, MSU Federal Credit Union, Running Lab, Savvy Sliders, Black Men Run and DPSCD were on hand for the shoe fittings, where experts from Running Lab helped the young runners determine their right size.
"To see it grow over the last three years to what it is right now is tremendous," Velthoven said about the Kids Marathon. "We've got a host of people that support this program, all with really one goal, to introduce kids in the city of Detroit to our sport. Let them experience and be part of the largest race in Michigan, and one of the largest North American International races."
Contact Eric Guzmán: eguzman@freepress.com; 313-222-1850. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @EGuzmanreports.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 400 DPSCD students prepare for third annual Kids Marathon event
