So, I'm a couple of months into the K.O.C.O. (Knocking Out Childhood Obesity) program kid's running program at Blanks Howard Virges Fitness Club, 1144 W. Eighth St. I've been meeting with the kids -- usually 6 to 8 of them, ranging in age from 6 to 15 -- once a week on Mondays & we've been running around Frontier Park. OK...mostly we walk, but...we're running more and more each week.

Our goal -- to participate in the Run Around Erie 15K's 1-mile fun run on Sun., Sept. 28. By the way...Jeff Shaw does a great job with the RAE and the 15K -- 9.1 miles -- is the perfect challenge for those of you looking for something more than a 10K, but not quite ready for a half marathon yet).

Anyway...I got the bright idea to recruit my husband to help run with the kids (it's too hard for just me to do...because I have some faster kids, some stragglers, etc.) which meant, of course, bringing along my own kids. To my surprise (and utter delight!), my kids joined right in and are some of the ones who run almost the whole time. I think they enjoyed the atmosphere with the other kids and got caught up in the fun...and the competition.

Last night, I asked the girls if they wanted to go for a little run with me. Kelly and I ran to the bridge up the road and back (some walking, some running) -- which is about a 1/2 mile away. She did a great job & I was so proud -- our first mother/daughter run. I had to, of course, take photos.

If you're interested in getting the kid(s) in your life running, too. You can find some good information at kidsrunning.com about how to teach kids to run.

The key, of course, is to make it fun...never something competitive or required....just something fun to do together.

And, honestly, whether they admit it or not...all kids really want is more time with us.