The warmer weather is upon us and there are many child-friendly races on the schedule for this year.
Many children are natural runners and do not need much encouragement to sign up for a race. Entering your child into a child-friendly race is a good way to teach them about health and wellness in a fun atmosphere. My own six-year-old loves the “Yam Scram” (The MVP race for children the day before the Vermont City Marathon) and is excited each year to sign up and run. We talk about the right clothes to wear and what to eat the night before and the importance of remaining hydrated before and during the race.
The ever popular MVP Health Care Ready! Set! Run! (formerly the Yam Scram) takes place at Burlington’s Waterfront Park.
This fun and chaotic race series features three different distances: 1/2 mile, mile, and two-mile races. All children receive a medal, and if you sign up early enough, your child even receives a race bib with her/his name on it!
This race closes registration on May 23rd (the races are on Saturday, May 27th), so if you are looking to sign your child up for one of the biggest child-friendly races in our area, make sure to do so soon!
Other than the Ready! Set! Run! there are also a number of other child-friendly races in the greater Burlington area:
The Fairfax Egg Run
I am partial to this one as it is held in my current hometown, and the course zips by my house. 
This is a local favorite too, as it not only features a 5k and 10k but also a 1k kid’s run. The reason it’s called the Egg Run? Because after the race, everyone has the opportunity to enjoy freshly made omelettes right at the finish line! This year the Egg Run takes place on Saturday, August 5th.
Isle La Motte 5k and 1/2 mile Fun Run
This race takes place on July 15th, and all proceeds benefit the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital. A nice, flat race on the shore of Lake Champlain, this race is hosted by the Isle La Motte Rec. Department. A bonus is that children 14 and under are only $5.00 to register!
ShoeFly Trail Festival ButterFly 1 Milers
This running festival weekend is held in the Northeast Kingdom. Far up in the reaches of 
Vermont, the weekend features many opportunities to run through beautiful trails and includes a one-mile fun run for parents and children. The cost is $15.00 per person, and if you are looking for a longer race as a family, there are multiple 5Ks as well. There is camping for the weekend with food and music for all to enjoy!
These are just a few of the child-friendly races in our area.
Some are closer than others, but all promise a fun time and a low key atmosphere. These races are sure to introduce your child to the joys of running in low-pressure, fun-focused events across the state!
The real reason it is called the Egg Run, is because about 30 years ago the first Egg Run was held at the Hillcrest Egg farm on Huntsville Road in Fairfax. it was put on by the BFA cross country team as a yearly fund raiser for about 10 years. After an absence of a number of years, it was brought back by a group Fairfax people interested in starting it up again. It is now run by the Fairfax Park and Rec. Dept.
Thanks for mentioning it! I was involved with it for many years and still enjoy running in it!
As a footnote to my previous comment, dozens of eggs were given out as prizes!
I had no idea- thanks for clarifying Janet! I didn’t see that info on the Parks and Rec page… They should put the history on there! I do love that they make omelets at the end though.