Rising New York Road Runners Coast to Coast Virtual Challenge
Join Olympic and Paralympic athletes in a quest from east to west, west to east, or any direction you choose. Rising New York Road Runners Coast to Coast Virtual Challenge is packed with fun activities for kids of all ages and abilities to enjoy. Kids can participate in 52 activities while using the printable Road Map to track their progress.
Pledge your child's participation, or your class' participation, using the form below, and continue below for a list of activities and resources.
Have kids complete activities in school or at home. Get started by selecting a region from the above map. View and play the activity within each state. Have kids research how the selected state received its nickname! Kids can track their progress by coloring in each state in the map on the printable certificate below.
Adult's Guide: Three fun ways to incorporate the Coast to Coast Virtual Challenge into your summer activities.
Coast to Coast Road Map: Your guide on this cross-country trip, track your progress and record your learnings along the way.
No printer? No worries! Have your kids interact with the digital map above or have them create their own!
East Coast
Connecticut (Land of Steady Habits)
A big race is not complete without a bib, finish line tape, and medal. Create your own! Here is some DIY (Do It Yourself) inspiration.
Delaware (The First State)
Warm up from head to toe with Jenny in Full Body Warm-Up!
Maine (Pine Tree State)
Find a socially distant partner for a game of Mirrors. Follow the movements of your partner as if you are looking in the mirror.
Maryland (Terrapin State)
Follow along with Daniel for some Shoulder Exercises. Use a resistance band if you have one.
Massachusetts (Baked Bean State)
Work on your throwing, catching, and spelling skills in C-H-A-M-P.
New Hampshire (Granite State)
Exercising your upper body is just as important as working your lower body. Let's try some Dips with Daniel!
New Jersey (Garden State)
Dynamic Activity includes dynamic stretches and running drills. Set a start and finish point for each drill. Create a circuit if your body isn't warm after completing each drill once.
New York (Empire State)
New York is the home of the TCS New York City Marathon, an annual 26.2-mile run through the five boroughs of New York City. This year you can run the streets of New York City in your hometown! Make sure your laces are tight for a Guided Virtual Run with two-time Olympian and Rising New York Road Runners Ambassador & Special Advisor to Puerto Rico, Beverly Ramos!
Pennsylvania (Railroad State)
Move around your activity area and listen for various statements. Freeze only if the Body Bingo statement applies to you.
Rhode Island (Ocean State)
Bricks and Feathers will teach you all about proper running form. Run like you have a bag of bricks or feathers on your back. Remember to keep your distance from other participants.
Washington DC (Nation’s Capital)
Tape a red star and blue fish to the wall or pick two objects. Move around using different movements and listen for a Red Star, Blue Fish call out. Find the correct fish and perform the movement associated with it.
Vermont (Green Mountain State)
Overnight Oats is a great meal to prepare at night and enjoy in the morning. We used berries, but you can also try your favorite types of apples, seeds, nuts, and raisins.*
*If you have any allergies, please ask your parent to help you choose ingredients.
Midwest
Illinois (Prairie State)
It's time for Push-Ups! Daniel will show you four different ways to do this activity. Choose the one that’s most comfortable for you.
Indiana (Hoosier State)
Grab a deck of cards or follow along for Card Cardio Challenge. Choose an exercise for each number or use the examples provided by Jenny.
Iowa (Hawkeye State)
Pick a start and finish line, then get your team for a Long Jump Relay. Become a champion two-footed jumper while keeping 6 feet away from other participants.
Michigan (Great Lake State)
Practice running different distances at different speeds in Formula One Race. How fast, or slow, can you go?
Minnesota (North Star State)
Grab a deck of cards and get ready to work your core in Fitness Cards. Each suit represents a workout and each number represents the number of times you must complete the movement.
Nebraska (Cornhusker State)
For See-Saw Squats, you will need a little music to motivate your movement. Stand 6 feet apart and squat facing your partner. Try to be the one standing when the music stops.
North Dakota (Peace Garden State)
In honor of Latinx Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15), let's add some music from Latin culture. Dance Fitness Slow Tempo will teach you the steps before your trip to Puerto Rico.
Ohio (Buckeye State)
Listen for the Balance (Static) as you walk, run, or leap around the activity area. When a balance is called, practice holding it for 15 seconds. Try holding the balance longer for a challenge.
South Dakota (Coyote State)
Get silly with your running form. Funky Run teaches you skills to correct your form while adding a ton of fun!
Wisconsin (America’s Dairyland)
Don't forget your assigned number at the beginning of Mighty Mathletes. Listen for your assigned number and number of laps. There may be a little math involved, so make sure you listen closely.
South & Puerto Rico
Alabama (Mascot: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail)
Pretend to be different animals with Jenny and Annie. Don't forget to come up with your own animals and find a friend for some Animal Acting fun!
Florida (Sunshine State)
Go with Jenny and Truman for a walk in Elevator Game!
Georgia (Peach State)
Let's try some Animal Stretching with Aliphine. Think of your favorite animal and stetch just like they do.
Kentucky (Bluegrass State)
Cool Down with Daniel Romanchuk. Use these 30-second stretches after a nice workout or after completing a few other activities.
Mississippi (Magnolia State)
Try these simple movements in Cool It. Beverly will lead as you follow along.
North Carolina (Old North State)
Follow the Leader (Running) in this running activity. Copy the movement of your teacher, parent, or friend.
Puerto Rico (Isla del Encanto, The Island of Enchantment)
In honor of Latinx Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) let’s add a little more tempo. Dance Fitness Fast Tempo will use all the moves from your trip to North Dakota. ¡Es hora de bailar! (It's time to dance)!
South Carolina (Palmetto State)
Try these movements for 30 seconds each in Fitness Circuit Blast. To make it more challenging, try each movement for 45 or 60 seconds.
Tennessee (Volunteer State)
Use Balance Challenge to figure out if you balance better on your left or right foot. Find different objects to balance on and try to be the last one to put your foot down.
Virginia (Old Dominion)
Create a board for Tic-Tac-Toe Relay then grab a socially distant partner. Take turns racing to the board to be the first with three in a row.
West Virginia (Mountain State)
Grab a set of dice for a game of Dice Moves. Try different locomotor movements based on your roll. The number rolled can represent the number of reps or the seconds to complete the movement.
Southwest
Arkansas (Natural State)
Pac Man will help you practice different locomotor skills. Create a marked line to follow or a playing area for all socially distant participants.
Colorado (Rocky Mountain State)
Take some time for reflection as you participate in some Yoga Cool-Down Stretches with Jenny. Remember to breathe deeply as you stretch.
Kansas (Wheat State)
Beverly wants to know if you can follow along in Can You…? Try taking turns and seeing what new movements everyone can do.
Louisiana (Creole State)
Spend a Day at the Zoo with Beverly as you move just like your favorite zoo animals. If there is an animal you know and love, try to imitate its movement.
Missouri (Show-Me State)
With 30 seconds on the clock, How Many times can you do each movement? Follow along with Jenny or go at your own pace.
New Mexico (Land of Enchantment)
Watch Aliphine build a balance course using items at home in All Aboard. Make sure to have your parent/guardian approve your course before you start.
Oklahoma (Sooner State)
Practice your speed with Beverly in Foot Fire. Keep changing your speed until your body is warmed up.
Texas (Lone Star State)
Try Body Test over a period of time and record your progress. The goal isn't to be the best, it's to get better over time.
West Coast, Alaska, and Hawaii
Alaska (Land of the Midnight Sun)
Butt Kick Competition will increase your leg strength and speed. See how many butt kicks you can do in a set time. Start with 30 seconds and add time to build your endurance.
Arizona (Grand Canyon State)
Pushups, squats, planks, and lunges make up Body Weight Strength Training. Jenny will show you the proper form; you choose the number of reps to create a circuit.
California (Golden State)
Use your entire body to keep your balloon afloat with Rudy in Air Balloon. Make it more challenging by adding more balloons and varying their size.
Hawaii (Aloha State)
Let's take a trip to visit some of our fellow Rising New York Road Runners in Hawaii in a game of Moving Mountains with Beverly.
Idaho (Spud State)
Stretch your muscles in Muscle Mix-Up. Keep 6 feet apart as you move around the activity area listening for different body parts.
Montana (Treasure State)
Grab a pair of dice or a deck of cards (numbers only) for a little Dice Fitness Madness. Choose an exercise for each number or follow the examples provided by Rudy.
Nevada (Silver State)
Music + Cool Down = Dance Fitness Cool Down! Try this activity after your trip to North Dakota or Puerto Rico.
Oregon (Beaver State)
Let's try this activity to your favorite song! Do a locomotor skill as the music plays, then freeze when the music stops. Make Musical Hops a little more challenging by assigning an additional exercise to any participant who doesn’t freeze in time.
Utah (Beehive State)
Set your start and finish points for your Sprint Race course. Practice social distancing with your teacher, classmates, or family as you run to the finish line and walk back to start.
Washington (Evergreen State)
Grab your chalk or colored papers to prepare your Rainbow Scatter activity area. Listen for a sequence of colors, numbers, or shapes and the movement you must perform.
Wyoming (Equality State)
Create a square course before you start Box Running. Try different locomotor movements along each side to add variety to your movements.