Starting September 1 through September 30, runners and walkers can participate in the Saucony Run for Good Challenge by challenging themselves to run 26.2 miles, logging all of their miles with the RunKeeper app. The free RunKeeper app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Once an account is created, participants can log miles in real time or after their workout. When a user completes the 26.2-mile challenge, Saucony will donate $26.20 to the Saucony Run for Good Foundation – up to $100,000 – to benefit childhood programs that keep kids healthy and active.
Richie Woodworth, president of Saucony and the Saucony Run for Good Foundation, noted that statistics show that nearly one in three children in America is overweight or obese. “At Saucony, our brand mission is to empower the human spirit through running – and that must include our kids. The Saucony Run for Good Challenge is an opportunity for our running community to help eradicate the childhood obesity epidemic simply by doing what we love – running,” he said.
One of the first apps in the 2008 App Store launch, Runkeeper now has more than 45 million users across 200 countries. According to a Saucony online consumer survey, nearly 60 percent of runners carry a phone on a typical run.
“Our partnership with RunKeeper, one of the largest and best mobile fitness platforms in the world, allows us to tap into the emerging connected fitness trend to further open the door for runners to join us in our goal to tackle childhood obesity,” said Woodworth.
Added RunKeeper founder and CEO Jason Jacobs, “Our users have been eager for opportunities to make their running miles work for causes they care about, so we’re thrilled to partner up with Saucony to seamlessly enable them to run for good.”
Since 2006, the Saucony Run for Good Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in grants to schools and community organizations all dedicated to preventing childhood obesity through running and a healthy lifestyle. Encouraged by recent signs of progress in turning childhood obesity rates around, Saucony remains even more committed to putting kids on the path to a healthy future.
“We know that running can be a transformational and powerful engine for good,” said Woodworth. “The Saucony Run for Good Challenge is an impactful way for runners everywhere to connect as a community, truly transforming their run into a run for good.”