The Statesman Capitol 10,000 – which always ranks high on my must-run list, but was cancelled in 2019 due to a storm and in 2020 due to a pandemic – has announced Marathon Kids as the beneficiary of its 2021 race.
The 2021 event, presented by Baylor Scott & White Health, is set for Sunday, April 11.
One dollar from every registration will go to Marathon Kids, a non-profit organization that helps students run and walk up to four cumulative marathons during the course of the school year. Race participants can also choose to make an additional donation when they register, which the Statesman will match up to $10,000.

Registration is now open at Cap10K.com. Registration is $35 for adults and $20 for ages 10 and under.
“Since the first Cap10 back in 1978, this race has been about bringing the Austin community together in the name of good health, and Austin’s kids are the heart and the future of our city,” Jeff Simecek, the Cap10K race director, said in a press release. “I’m happy that our race and the Austin running community will support Marathon Kids in their mission to get kids active and set them on the path toward a lifetime of good health.”
Marathon Kids marks its 25th anniversary this year. The program is provided for free in all Austin public schools, as well as hundreds of other schools around the country.
“Helping kids develop a love of running that will serve them their whole lives has always been our mission,” says Marathon Kids CEO Cami Hawkins. “Now, with so much uncertainty in schools and life in general due to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever for kids to move their bodies and reap the benefits of exercise for their physical and mental health”
The organization recently unveiled a new digital lap-tracking app and reporting program called Marathon Kids Connect. Teachers, coaches, parents, and volunteers can use the platform and app to connect, get involved, and support their student runners in making progress, hitting milestones, and celebrating achievements.
To kick off its 25th anniversary season in Austin, Marathon Kids is inviting the community to join a 25,000-mile virtual relay. Throughout September, participants will run or walk, adding their miles to the collective goal of running a distance equivalent to the circumference of the earth.
To register, go to marathonkids.org/weruntheworld.