Step Up Kids Run Club was started from a desire to create spaces where kids of all fitness levels could grow and learn that they are capable of more than they can imagine. Our goal each season is to ensure that kids not only get a great workout and skills that can help them stay active throughout life, but, more importantly, they will be empowered with growth mindset skills that can help them flourish in all aspects of their lives even into adulthood.
Using the Dashstrom curriculum, Step Up Kids Run Club transforms traditional running games and drills into powerful life lessons. This curriculum has worked with thousands of children of all fitness levels who have learned fun and active tools to harness self confidence. Our empowerment principles and running skills together create a unique and powerful curriculum, one which combines physical health with strength of character.
The 8 Core Empowerment Principles of Run Club
Power Words
How we talk about ourselves defines who we are.
Positive Thoughts
We are what we think.
Aggressive Goals
We dare to believe anything is possible.
Personal Resilience
Setbacks are welcome as an opportunity to grow.
Teamwork
We can do together what we cannot do alone.
Individual Integrity
We do the right thing even when no one is watching.
Community Vision
We exist in relation to others.
New Beginnings
A finish line is just the beginning of a new journey.
The 8 Core Empowerment Principles of Run Club
Power Words
How we talk about ourselves defines who we are.
Positive Thoughts
We are what we think.
Aggressive Goals
We dare to believe anything is possible.
Personal Resilience
Setbacks are welcome as an opportunity to grow.
Teamwork
We can do together what we cannot do alone.
Individual Integrity
We do the right thing even when no one is watching.
Community Vision
We exist in relation to others.
New Beginnings
A finish line is just the beginning of a new journey.
Meet Our Team
Meet Our Team
Coach Katie
Katie is the founder of Step Up Kids Run Club. As a kid, she was a self-defined "back of the pack" girl in any running games or active classes and always hated the feeling of coming in last. As an adult, she has (to her great surprise) become a runner and learned that it doesn't matter how fast you are because the only competition that really matters is between who you were and who you are becoming.
She is passionate about making health, fitness and a growth mindset part of her own family culture. Out of this passion grew the desire to create a community where her son and other children could be taught these ideas in a fun, engaging way.
She is thrilled to be able to offer this program to the Kalamazoo community. Her goal is to create spaces where kids of all fitness levels, from the fastest to the slowest, can have fun being active and learning empowerment principles that can help them find their own passion for lifelong growth.
Coach Mike
Hey everyone, I'm Coach Mike! I've been a runner ever since high school and a serious one since having kids myself. In fact, it was pushing my 3 kids in strollers that got me back into running and racing after high school. I race distances between 5Ks and marathons, with long distances being new to me. I'll be one of the running ambassadors for the Ziegler Kalamazoo Marathon in 2024 as well.
I love being a coach for Step Up Kids Run Club because I love engaging with kids, laughing and having fun, and I love helping them realize their own potential. Every child is special and is full of talents and abilities, and through Step Up Kids Run Club, we really aim to unlock not only an appreciation of fitness, but also of skills that will help children aggressively pursue goals, use their voice to share and speak out, and build the confidence that makes any goal seem achievable. I love coaching because we can be the key to help unlock that hidden potential. Please consider signing up your child and joining us!
