Aiken Elementary Students Run With Ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes

Aiken Elementary fifth grader Alyssa Getty likes to run, but 3.1 miles is about her limit, she said Wednesday after taking part in a race with ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes.

Karnazes, on the other hand, is running some 40-50 miles a day as he makes his way to New York City after starting in California to promote healthy lifestyles.

That amount of running would be tiring, Getty said.

Still, she plans to keep running and wants to go out for track, she said.

With a first-place medal draped around her neck, Alyssa is off on the right foot.

That’s what it’s all about, Karnazes said.

“I’m trying to inspire this country to get active again,” he said.

The fitness guru and motivational speaker started running 62 days ago and notched mile 2,500 sometime Tuesday. He’s got about 450 miles to go.

Karnazes had already logged about eight miles before leading some 150 runners in the race.

Health and phys ed teacher Jenn Watenpool, herself a runner although she’s taking a break while pregnant, said the kids were ecstatic about Karnazes' visit.

"I'm blown away," she said.

Festivities included the Keystone Oaks marching band, the Pittsburgh Pirate mascot and Karnazes arriving on an antique fire truck.

Watenpool said she thinks many students will stick with running, adding the school has a running club.

Students have been following Karnazes’ progress on a map and used his run to learn about nutrition—Karnazes takes in some 8,000 to 10,000 calories, or about four to five times what the average adult requires.

Dave Natale, senior sports marketing manager for Dick's Sporting Goods, sponsor of the Pittsburgh Marathon, said Karnazes is one of Dick's ambassadors for its National Running Month program in May.

Like Karnazes' mission, the program is intended to encourage running and healthy living.

Karnazes’ run is part of “Regis & Kelly’s Run Across America with Dean Karnazes." The run benefits Action For Health Kids, which fights childhood obesity and undernourishment.