Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Angélica Ramsey knows what it’s like to grow up economically disadvantaged and learn to survive with limited resources, including clothing and food.
“I didn’t know what properly fitting clothes and shoes were until I went to college,” said Dr. Ramsey. “To get new shoes is a source of pride, and you feel like you can run faster.”
Thanks to the district’s partnership with C.A.L.F. – Children’s Activities for Life & Fitness – students with backgrounds similar to Dr. Ramsey’s can now understand that feeling and channel it through running and competing in the annual Cowtown Marathon races.
The partnership, now in its 14th year, covers entry fees and training for lower-income students and provides them with properly fitted shoes and socks. All other students receive discounted entry fees.
“For me, the shoes are impactful,” said Dr. Ramsey. “If shoes are too big and you’re doing physical activity you can get calluses, or twist your ankle. But in my family, like in many of these students’ families, it was and is a survival thing. Understanding proper fit, and then getting new shoes, is such a big deal.”
Thanks to those shoes, the district physical education staff, proper training, volunteers and everyone else involved in making the Cowtown Marathon races and C.A.L.F. program run smoothly, there were no twisted ankles or calluses this past weekend as nearly 2,500 district students ran in either the kids’ 5K race (3.1 miles) or, for older students, the 10K (6.2 miles) or half-marathon (13.1 miles), open to ages 14 and older. Students who are 18 or older can also elect to run in the 26.2-mile full marathon or even the 31.1-mile ultra marathon.
While the Cowtown Marathon has provided some sort of discounted program for kids for nearly 45 years, the C.A.L.F. program began in 2009.
“In 2008, a PE teacher from one of the schools brought in her student team registration forms,” said Cowtown Marathon Executive Director Heidi Swartz. “We gave students a discounted fee of $14, and after I calculated the total, she handed me a check. It was her income tax refund, endorsed over to Cowtown.”
Swartz handed the check back and reached out to one of their sponsors, asking if they would cover the student entrants from that school. They did, and the C.A.L.F. program was born, initially offering more deeply discounted entry fees for all eligible students.
“Then we noticed kids were running in inappropriate shoes,” said Swartz. “If they don’t feel good when they finish, they won’t come back, so we started providing shoes.”
They then noticed the students didn’t have appropriate running socks, so two pairs of socks per student were added to the program.
Cowtown board member Leslie Casey noted that many of the students return to run year after year, with some returning later to volunteer at C.A.L.F. and take advantage of the organization’s scholarship program.
Swartz commented on the generational changes these returning students create.
“They depend on our shoes, but they also bring their families who often run with them, too,” said Swartz. As those early participants grow into adults, they then bring their own children.
That continuous increased participation has brought in and retained more sponsors. Academy Sports + Outdoors now sponsors the kids’ 5K race.
“The most important thing is teaching kids they can take this into adulthood and creating healthy lifestyles,” Swartz said. “They are going to be in our workforce that now will be a healthier workforce, which benefits the community.”
Superintendent Ramsey echoes a similar sentiment about that bigger picture.
“The short-term benefit for the families is getting the shoes,” Ramsey said. “Over the long term, it’s how it involves the entire families. As much as you can teach a 6-year-old about healthy eating, they’re not the ones preparing the meals at home. We understand the nexus between being healthy and learning, but we don’t necessarily do something about it. Once you do it, it’s easier for the next generation to do it.
“If we can get our kiddos on a good path early on and get families involved, we can make positive generational change.”
