MARION — On a course set up in front of Tabor Academy’s Hoyt Hall, a plethora of kids got into a ready stance, waiting for one word to come out of Chris Adams’ mouth: Go!.

Adams is the coordinator of the Marion Mile, a seven-week summer program where kids can run timed half-mile or one mile routes.

When Adams finally signaled to the participants that they could begin, most kids broke out into a full sprint to try to gain an early lead on other entrants.

The heat of the summer sun quickly slowed most of the field into a jog.

“This isn’t as easy as I thought,” one participant shouted out as he ran the full mile race on Tuesday, June 25. 

Children aged seven and up ran the full mile, while children six and under ran a separate half-mile race afterwards.

According to Adams, the Marion Mile started 21 years ago.

“My son, he was eight years old and he ran the town road race, a 5K,” Adams explained. “His legs were beat up afterwards so I was like ‘Alright, we’ll do something shorter on a softer surface, so I started the mile that summer.’”

He said that participation has grown steadily over the past two decades.

“I had six kids the first day and was up to 20 by the end of the first summer,” said Adams. “I’ve gotten up to usually 120 to 200 kids every summer.”

Registration is still open for the 2024 Marion Mile on marionma.gov. There is an on-site entry fee of $30 that is good for the whole seven-week schedule. Runs will take place every Tuesday through Aug. 6.

Runners receive t-shirts and medals.

“It’s fun,” said Adams. “This is one of my favorite things to do. I just retired from Tabor a month ago, but this will keep coming.”