First UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS SUPERFROG Fun Run Motivates Young Triathletes-to-be

On Saturday, 160 young athletes participated in the first UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS SUPERFROG Fun Run at Imperial Beach. UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound kicked-off the fun run, joined by Kevin Kandalaft of UnitedHealthcare, and triathlete members of Team Red White & Blue.

Local athletes, ages 3-15, had the opportunity to run along portions of the IRONMAN® 70.3® SUPERFROG course, which took place today. This is the first time a SUPERFROG event offered a youth fun run. SUPERFROG triathlons were created and designed by Navy SEALS. This is the fourth year UnitedHealthcare is supporting IRONKIDS as part of the company’s commitment to help stem the rising tide of childhood obesity through healthy lifestyles. The UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS 2015 Series features nine one-mile fun-runs and a dip-and-dash.

Obesity among children and adolescents has almost tripled since 1980, with nearly one in every three children being overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Children from low-income and low-education households are three-times more likely to suffer from obesity, which is a leading risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and many cancers, according to America’s Health Rankings®, an annual comprehensive assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis. California ranks 4th in the country with 24 percent of adults estimated to be obese.

Photo by: Sandy Huffaker