We were proud to again sponsor the CALF 10K, 5K, and 1 mile runs on Saturday morning.
CALF, which stands for Children’s Activities for Life & Fitness, is cleverly named since it is founded by the Cowtown Marathon. This organization was voted as the top one in the United States promoting physical fitness for kids a few years ago.
Hundreds of school children from all over Fort Worth came to the Coyote Drive-In to walk and run along the Trinity River. They also got to eat the healthy snacks prepared by high school students who are planning on becoming chefs and they competed in a separate competition.
I enjoyed seeing the kids, teachers, and the PE instructor from the FWISD school I adopted 14 years ago, Rufino Mendoza Elementary School.
The CALF Program
Since it is the goal of the Cowtown Marathon to make North Texas a healthier area, the CALF Program was started in 2009 to help tens of thousands of area kids get into better shape. Its staff visits over 400 schools each year, teaching them how to run and be healthy.
They also identify economically challenged children and fit them with a new pair of running shoes and pay for their registration fee for the Cowtown’s special 5K race for children in February. Last year, the CALF program gave out an impressive 5,800 race registrations and pairs of running shoes. It is fun to see how happy the children are to get them.
I have served on the CALF Council since it was formed 10 years ago. I believe in its mission to get children exercising, eating healthy foods, and adopting healthy habits at an early age so that they will become life-long habits. My law firm has sponsored the CALF races every year since they were started. I go to them and the 5K race in February to support these wonderful kids.
I am a big believer in the power of exercise and nutrition. I run, cycle, or lift weights almost every day and have an very healthy diet. These give me more energy which enables me to better serve my clients, since going through trials, depositions, and practicing law can be grueling.
And the Cowtown Marathon was the first one I ran in my crazy quest to run a marathon in all 50 states.
I completed this goal a few years ago just outside of Washington D.C. along the C & O Canal in Maryland the week before I turned 60, meeting my goal of “50 by (age) 60”.
Congratulations, Cowtown Marathon for another successful morning of races!