Mt. Lebanon elementary schools are encouraging kids to meet with adult volunteers to get active outside of the school day through Kids of STEEL, a P3R-powered program dedicated to giving kids in Pittsburgh a free way to move and stay healthy.  After local parent Shannon Harpst heard about the organization and began her own site at Hoover Elementary School, the word slowly spread and now all seven elementary schools in the district host Kids of STEEL practices each week.

Harpst, a runner herself, heard about P3R and their youth programming at a separate event and was immediately inspired to bring it to Mt. Lebanon’s children.  The organization’s free coaching materials give volunteers everything they need to coach kids through a training regimen with hopes to lead kids across the finish line of the Chick-Fil-A Pittsburgh Kids Marathon and the UPMC Sports Medicine Pittsburgh 5K in May. 

“It was challenging at first, getting the word out,” Harpst said.  “But once people saw what was going on and how the kids were participating and excited about it, it spread throughout the district.”

Kids of STEEL encourages kids to run in the events of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend in early May each year.  And while they may only be running between one and three miles, they’re alongside tens of thousands of adult runners.  P3R’s Senior Vice President of Youth Programming Amy Scheuneman says that seeing the kids on race day makes it all worth it.

 “I love to see those kids finish and the smiles that they have on their faces,” Scheuneman said.  “They come back year after year, and they just say it’s the best day of their life.”

Kids of STEEL empowers coaches and kids alike to make their workouts their own and find fun in exercise.  Specific routines and activities vary by site, and Howe Elementary School’s site coach Jamie Matias finds that freedom inspiring. 

“You own the culture of your site,” Matias said.  “I think that’s kind of what is beautiful about this because it allows for a dynamic that is already there in your community to continue to thrive.”

Practices at Howe Elementary usually consist of multiple warm-up laps, followed by multiple break-out stations of various games and activities to help kids get moving.  At Hoover Elementary, Harpst typically leads the kids in timed walking and running intervals, followed by playing some sort of game that keeps their heart rate moving.  Even the schedules of each practice vary, with some schools hosting afternoon practices while others, like Hoover Elementary, invite kids to come to school early for their activities.

“The fact that they are excited to show up a half an hour before school to do the workouts says a lot,” Harpst said.

Kids of STEEL offers kids the option to participate in a variety of events in addition to the May marathon weekend, including a turkey trot, a Fourth of July race and other sports clinics and events year-round.  Matias finds that the real impact is in teaching kids how to care for themselves, no matter how fast they can get to the finish line.

“The end goal is running that mile for the kid’s marathon,” Matias said.  “But that’s not everything.  It’s really about character development, taking care of your body and fueling it with food, proper nutrition, rest and hydration.”

According to P3R, there are over 350 Kids of STEEL groups across Western Pennsylvania and Mt. Lebanon groups often have waitlists after they reach their capacity of around 100 kids per site.  The community’s love of the organization and its volunteers is clear, and it’s largely due to P3R’s dedication to making participation completely free.  Scheuneman encourages adults of any age and experience level to volunteer, whether that means forming their own group or coming to a race and helping. 

“Your time is well invested in our program,” Scheuneman said.  “You’re investing in their lives, and they’re investing in you, too.”

The Mt. Lebanon Kids of STEEL heat will be racing on Saturday, May 2, at 10:45 a.m., beginning on the North Shore of Pittsburgh.  Race days contribute largely to Kids of STEEL’s funding, and anyone is able to donate or find out more about how to get involved with Kids of STEEL at https://p3r.org/programs/kids-of-STEEL.