Kids Race In Chatham's Mini Marathon: Pics

CHATHAM, NJ — The streets of the neighborhood surrounding Chatham’s Lafayette School were dotted with yellow and blue streaks that passed through them recently, when fourth and fifth graders participated in the school’s yearly mini marathon.

With about 169 fourth graders in blue t-shirts and 139 fifth graders registered for the race and wearing yellow, the students took part in the 1.6 mile mini marathon at either a walking, jogging or running pace.

After the pandemic sidelined the in-person race during the 2020-2021 school year and participating kids did the marathon on their own, each child sending in a photo of themselves and their route, said Katie Hogan - a member of the school’s parent committee for the event - this year’s marathon on Oct. 25 was back in-person with a full lineup of pre-marathon and post-marathon segments.

“Each year it [the mini marathon] has grown, this year brings one of the largest groups,” Hogan said.

The School District of the Chathams gave a mention about the marathon on social media, noting members of the high school's marching band kicked it off, with high schoolers on the route who cheered for the students.

The event even gained a mention from Chatham Borough, which alerted drivers that there would be road closures temporarily because of it to Washington, Longwood, Dellwood and Fairview Avenues.

There were local businesses who sponsored practice raffles for this year’s mini marathon, including Arminios, Chatham Sandwich Shop, Chatham Bagel, Fleur de Sel, Jabberwocky and
Scoops The Chatham Creamery.

On the day of the marathon, these were the local sponsors of the race day shirts: Chatham Orthodontics, Goballistic Sports, Card My Yard Chatham, Hickory Tree Pizza, Pascarella Brothers Deli and Brooke Visentini of Keller Williams in Summit.

The top five for each grade level were announced on “Lafayette Live,” Hogan said.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.