Tamara Buck, PT, DPT, PCS, is on a mission to get children who aren’t physically active moving more.

Through her innovative “Together We Run” program at the Mary and Frances Youth Center, part of Virginia Commonwealth University, Buck is providing a safe, supportive environment for children from underserved areas to get into running and other physical activities. Her 10-week training program culminates with youths running a 5K race.

Although running can offer a low-cost entry into sports and exercise, the need for sneakers and a safe place to train can still limit options for many of the youths she’s serving. She’s eliminating those barriers.

"My passion as a pediatric physical therapist is getting children who are not currently physically active to be physically active,” Buck said. In this case, “that is kids from underserved areas that do not have access to sports or the means to participate in sports, as well as kids with disabilities who don't fit into the typical sports realm.”

The program, which is integrated into Buck’s Ph.D. dissertation, partners with the Peter Paul Child Development Center to bring children aged 8 to 13 to the youth center for a 10-week training program. After gradually building up stamina and distance, this year’s training class competed on Nov. 23 in the 5K race, which circled Fountain Lake in Byrd Park and featured family members cheering them on. Each child was paired with a race buddy who provided encouragement along the route.

“One of the best things about the program is every child has a race buddy and a training buddy – both of whom typically are our DPT students,” she said. “That creates a side benefit for our PT students to volunteer, and the experience is opening some of their eyes to what it’s like for children growing up in these different neighborhoods.”

Over the training weeks, the children, who primarily come from families with only a high school-level education, gradually increase their running distance, starting at half a mile in September and working up to 3 miles. “We slowly increase time and distance, so they get adjusted to covering more ground,” she said.

In advance of the race, Buck offers further tips that veteran competitors practice, including suggestions for a pre-run meal (nothing too heavy - try some peanut butter and bananas) and getting a good night’s sleep. She wants her young runners to understand how these related choices are important in helping them step up to the starting line ready to give their best performance.

While she has an immediate goal for the children to complete the race, her broader goal is to instill in them a love of physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices that continues long after they’ve crossed the finish line. Running (or simply walking) is an exercise where they can also encourage their family members to join. She hopes to run two seasons a year – adding in a spring session – to keep the children engaged and motivated.

“I’d like them to go the distance – and be happy they can go the distance so that they want to do more races,” said Buck, noting that a waiting list of more than 30 students requires recruiting more volunteer buddies. “I really don't care as much about how fast they might go, because some people don't have fun going fast. I just care that they go.”