DREAM BIG MARATHON

 

26 Miles. 26 Books. 26 Acts of Kindness.

Overview

The Dream Big Marathon is a goal-setting program that encourages students to complete 26 miles, read 26 books, and perform 26 acts of kindness. More than a marathon, it's a fun and engaging way to build confidence, develop healthy habits, and show students that big goals are achieved one step at a time.

Students will experience social-emotional learning alongside healthy movement and exercise, harnessing the mind-body connection for a successful life. Based on the story of running legend Dave McGillivray's beginnings with the Boston Marathon, the overall themes include overcoming challenges, creating plans to reach your goals, celebrating your accomplishments, and believing in yourself!

“My students learned that accomplishing big goals starts with taking one small step.”

  • The program is designed for elementary and middle school students and can be implemented by schools, classrooms, after-school programs, youth organizations, and community groups. No running experience is required—just a willingness to participate and grow.

  • Students track their progress as they complete 26 miles of movement, read 26 books, and perform 26 acts of kindness over the course of the program. Educators and program leaders can adapt the timeline and activities to best fit their students and schedule.

  • Dream Big Marathon helps students:

    • Build self-confidence

    • Develop a love of reading

    • Practice kindness and empathy

    • Learn the value of setting and achieving goals

    • Celebrate progress, not just the finish line

  • Getting started is easy. The Finish Strong Foundation provides resources and guidance to help educators and community leaders bring the program to life. Whether you're looking to inspire one classroom or an entire school, we're here to help.

This program is our mission come to life and we are seeking teachers, scout leaders, after-school program leaders and more to help us bring this experience to kids across the US. We have both a signature version of the program, as well as ways to customize it to fit your group’s needs and schedule

Ready to start?

We'd love to help bring the Dream Big Marathon to your school or organization. Click below to get started.

Start a Program

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