This page describes the Manitoba Marathon's Countdown 26 School Program. It also describes the special registration process now available for bulk school entries. These include:

• Online Registration area for CD 26 participants.
• "School Registration/package pickup Appointments" used by the Manitoba Marathon.
• Downloadable "bulk entry" sheets, to assist in organizing/registering schools and their students, teachers, and parents.

Our Special Focus on Kids

The greatest joy on Father's Day is seeing the sea of school-aged kids swirling around the start lines of the Great-West Life Super Run, the Marathon Relay, and even the Intrepid Dezine Half Marathon, then later gathering under school banners around the University Stadium Finish Line area. Add in the excitement of hundreds of teachers and parents who have volunteered their time to encourage and train those kids, so that they reach their finish lines. So many faces, so many smiles.

Manitoba's schools - with the active support of the Manitoba Marathon - are introducing thousands of kids to a healthy and happy lifestyle each spring, culminating with their participation on Father's Day. The Manitoba Marathon has been with those schools, all the way, for over 20 years, with training programs, resource kits, and even staff visits, to help program leaders teach running....and to make it fun! Nearly 200 schools and 3500 young runners are showing up every year.

Here's how you can take part!

What is the Countdown 26 School Program and how does your school get involved?
What do we get?
How does our school sign up?
What about fund raising?
What is "Lace It Up" Day?

What is the Countdown 26 School Program and how does your school get involved?

• The Countdown 26 School Program is designed to encourage and educate children to become physically fit through running. Many schools start their running programs shortly after the Easter long weekend, and offer as a goal participation in the Manitoba Marathon on Father's Day.
• We do stress that participation in the Manitoba Marathon is not a requirement to join the Countdown 26 program for either a school or for an individual. Your schools can also enter the Manitoba Marathon, without being a part of our Countdown 26 program. Students are encouraged to come to the training sessions and hopefully to fund raise to support projects for people who live with an intellectual disability. Our goal is to get students and their families out running and to consider supporting our charity.
• The Countdown 26 theme reflects the idea of an ongoing commitment - that runners, young or old, need to work steadily towards their goal, no matter which Start Line they choose. For many schools, Countdown 26 refers to either the number of training miles or the number of training sessions that you run. And of course, it resonates with the magic of the classic 26.2 mile marathon that children might aspire to, in their adult lives.
• There is no cost for this program.

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What do we get?

• Each school is encouraged to develop a running program that meets its needs. For many schools, these might be runs before school, during lunch, or after school. Many schools have found wonderful support from interested parents.
• The Countdown 26 resources were developed by teachers from some of the most successful school running programs. They are intended to add the little things into your program that will keep your students interested and focused, and excited about their upcoming Manitoba Marathon experience.
• When your school signs up, you will receive:
  1. Countdown 26 Attendance Charts - to be used to track student progress and participation in the program.
  2. Countdown 26 Achievement Awards Certificates (3) - to be photocopied and distributed to the students.
  3. Registration Made Easy guide (including online registration manual and entry fees schedule).
  4. Bulk Sheets for any manual student registrations (Individual and Relay Teams)
  5. Manitoba Marathon Poster
  6. The Manitoba Marathon also offers a school visit by one of our staff (and/or a great video) - it's an exciting way to jumpstart your running program, and to show students that there are thousands of kids just like them, doing the Marathon thing every Father's Day!

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How does our school sign up?

If your school is not yet involved, please call the School Program Coordinator at the Manitoba Marathon, at (204) 415-4517, or e-mail our schools program to get your Countdown 26 materials, or to book a school visit, or for further information.

The program traditionally starts with a Teacher Information Night which will take place on Wednesday April 4, 2012, 5 PM, at the Manitoba Marathon Office: 4-1080 Waverley St.. At that time, school representatives receive will their Countdown 26 materials. Those in attendance will receive a light meal and a leader t-shirt. Staff will be available to discuss the registration process, any new changes, and to answer any questions.

The Manitoba Marathon also hosts a Jog in the Park for Winnipeg-area students. It can be either a kickoff to your own program or a practice run for those schools that have started their training. It lasts about 1 hour, and is held at Assiniboine Park, on Wednesday, April 25th, at 10:00 am. Schools must register for this event 415-4517.

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What about fund raising?

Runners in the Manitoba Marathon provide a valued community service, by raising funds to support projects for people who live with and intellectual disability. We strongly encourage schools to have volunteers (often a parent group) do the fund raising portion of the program. This has worked very well for many schools in the past. That way, the leader(s) need only be in charge of the training part of the program.

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What is "Lace It Up" Day?

We're hoping to see a sea of runners wearing that single bright green shoelace at the Manitoba Marathon Start Lines this year, showing that we all do care about our community, and our commitment to people who live with intellectual disabilities. One "toonie" - one two dollar coin - and a smile as you lace it up, is all it takes!

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If you have any questions or would like to register for our Countdown 26 Program, please call or email our School Program Coordinator at (204)415-4517 (x23) or email at programs@manitobamarathon.mb.ca and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Click here to download a copy of the Relay Bulk Form

Click here to download a copy of the School Bulk Entry Form

Click here to download a copy of our school registration form

Click here to download a copy of our Spring 2011 newsletter

The Manitoba Marathon would like to thank Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP for their sponsorship of The Champions in Training Program for the 2011 Manitoba Marathon. The program serves to remove barriers for children participating in the event. Children are the future - Interested families can apply through their school leader.