American Youth Running Association markAYRA

AYRA Elementary Run League

Run. Play. Grow. Compete.

A six-week spring running program that helps elementary students build healthy habits, confidence and a love of running — while giving them the opportunity to compete from their school all the way to the AYRA National Championships.

Bring AYRA to Your SchoolHow the League Works
Elementary students sprinting toward the camera across a school finish line
  • 6 Weeks
  • 3 Days / Week
  • Grades K–5
  • No Running Experience Required

How It Works

Six Steps From Sign-Up to Nationals

A principal should understand the entire program in thirty seconds. Here it is, start to finish.

  1. 01

    School Joins AYRA

    Register your elementary school for the inaugural spring season in a few minutes.

  2. 02

    Receive the Program

    AYRA provides the complete six-week curriculum, practice plans and resources.

  3. 03

    Train for Six Weeks

    Three fun sessions per week — Monday, Wednesday and Friday after school.

  4. 04

    Race!

    Students compete at their age-appropriate distance: 500m, 800m or 1600m.

  5. 05

    Advance

    Qualifying runners advance to AYRA Regional and State Championships.

  6. 06

    Nationals

    The journey culminates at the AYRA National Championships.

Signature Distances

Every Grade Has Its Distance

Ask an AYRA runner what they race and they will tell you the number. Grade to distance, distance to club — it becomes their identity for the season.

K–1 AYRA runner racing the 500MK–1

500M

Start Running

One loop of joy. Kindergarten and first graders learn what a start line feels like — and finish grinning.

AYRA 500 Club

2nd–3rd AYRA runner racing the 800M2nd–3rd

800M

Build Confidence

Twice the distance, twice the pride. Runners learn pacing, teamwork and how to push through the middle.

AYRA 800 Club

4th–5th AYRA runner racing the 1600M4th–5th

1600M

Go the Distance

The full mile. Fourth and fifth graders discover grit, strategy and the thrill of a real finishing kick.

AYRA 1600 Club

View the 6-Week Program
Elementary runners cheering and high-fiving after a school race

Every School. Every Kid. Every Spring.

Six weeks to build a habit. One race to discover what's possible.

AYRA Elementary Run League — Building Health. Building Confidence. Building Futures.

Championships

The Road to Nationals

Every AYRA runner starts on their own school field. The pathway forward is the same for all of them.

  1. 1

    School Season

    Six weeks of practice, then a school race day at every grade distance.

  2. 2

    Regional Championships

    Top finishers from each school meet runners from neighboring districts.

  3. 3

    State Championships

    Regional qualifiers race for a state title and a national invitation.

  4. 4

    AYRA National Championships

    The season finish line: America's fastest elementary runners on one start line.

See the Road to Nationals

Inaugural Spring Season

Become an AYRA Founding School

The first schools to join shape the league forever. Founding status is granted once — to the schools that say yes for the inaugural season.

Become a Founding School
  • Founding School recognition
  • AYRA Founding School digital badge
  • Founding School banner & certificate
  • Recognition on the AYRA website
  • Priority championship registration
  • Permanent inaugural-school status
A PE teacher with a stopwatch encouraging young runners at practice

A National Movement

AYRA Is Growing Across America

The inaugural spring season is opening region by region. Elementary schools across these areas are claiming their place on the very first AYRA start line.

  • Southwest

    New Mexico • Arizona • Texas

  • Mountain West

    Colorado • Utah • Nevada

  • Midwest

    Kansas • Missouri • Iowa

  • Southeast

    Georgia • Florida • Tennessee

Put Your State on the Map