Kids Crush Marathon

Photo courtesy of Marco Forester Middle School.

Pushing through pain and powering past doubt, 39 Marco Forester Middle School students recently crossed the finish line of the LA Marathon, continuing a remarkable 25-year tradition started as a project of San Juan Capistrano Rotary's Ray Perez. The club remains a proud team sponsor today.

These young runners joined the iconic 39-year-old race alongside 26,000 participants as part of Students Run LA (SRLA), a program that transforms adolescent lives one stride at a time. Marco Forester stood tall among 193 Southern California schools, including neighboring Vista Del Mar in San Clemente and Niguel Hills in Laguna Niguel.

The road to marathon day isn't paved overnight. Students in grades seven through twelve must secure parental permission, pass medical clearance, and commit to rigorous training. SRLA rewards this dedication with training shirts, free running shoes after completing early community races, and ultimately, the coveted marathon-day race uniform.

In the first years, SJC Rotary provided the shoes and running gear. Now the club underwrites the transportation and overnight stay in Los Angeles.

When March arrived, these young athletes were ready. SRLA boasts an astounding 99% finish rate, and Marco Forester maintained that perfect record – every student who started crossed the finish line.

With the San Juan Capistrano Rotary club's continued sponsorship and support, Marco Forester's marathon tradition doesn't just build stronger runners – it builds stronger character, one mile at a time.