To mark National Running Day, a day devoted to encouraging more Americans to strap on their sneakers, hundreds of city school children gathered at Randall's Island Wednesday to take part in full-force track and field. NY1's Health reporter Kafi Drexel filed the following report.

It was like the ultimate form of "Field Day." Nearly 1,500 kids from more than 45 different schools around the city laced up Wednesday for the annual "Mighty Milers Fun Run and Walk" in Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island, as part of National Running Day.

One of several youth running programs of New York Road Runners, "Mighty Milers" is set up to help get kids moving early.

"We have over 45 schools today but we've got something like 375 in New York City in our program, another 150 around the country," said Cliff Sperber of NYRR Youth and Community Services. "And again, it is all about teaching kids to love physical activity."

Most of the young participants couldn't wait to show their stuff.

"When I run, it's like I'm on the treadmill and I'm running to catch something," said fifth-grader Fuquan Ford.

"I like running because it's fun. You get to run around in the sun, play with your friends," said fifth-grader Oulimata Ndaw.

There wasn't much slowing down the runners in a sunny day filled with relays and half-mile races. Organizers hoped such programs and events will slow down the pace of mounting challenges with diabetes and childhood obesity.

"At NYRR, a huge priority of our is getting every child running and introducing kids to the benefits of running at a young age," said NYRR CEO and President Mary Wittenberg. "Because if we can have them come out here and have a really good time, and that be all they are really worried about, and [if they] learn to set some goals and strive to achieve goals, then we've accomplished our first job, which is introducing them to running in a very friendly, fun way. And then we hope it carries over into their lives in many, many ways for many years to come."

Also to help celebrate National Running Day, the children and the rest of the running world revved up with a major announcement. The fastest distance runner of all time, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, will compete in the ING New York City Marathon for his first time ever.

In addition to focusing on a November win, the Ethiopian running star was also focused on making sure all his young fans also go the distance.

"Some of them, they play football, some of them play basketball, but running is the best sport for their body," said Gebrselassie.

You probably can't get a better endorsement than that.