What began as a local need has grown into a dynamic youth initiative helping children across Upper Saddle River discover confidence, community and the joy of movement.
Founded in 2021 by Aidan Walsh, a former professional runner and head coach at Racefaster, the USR Youth Running Program introduces children to running in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
“Our goal is to introduce kids to the sport of running in a low-pressure, encouraging environment,” Walsh says. “Running is the type of sport where talent can develop over time. Oftentimes, the kids who struggle in the beginning develop into very good athletes.”
The program’s structure is designed to meet kids where they are—whether that means transitioning from walking to jogging or helping a fast runner sharpen their edge.
“Our job is to get your kids to love the sport,” Walsh says. “Developing talent is the easy part.”
The idea to launch the club locally came after Walsh and his wife moved to Upper Saddle River in 2021. With more than 15 years of coaching experience in youth programs throughout Bergen County, the couple recognized a need in their new community—and had a personal reason for starting something close to home.
“We have two young girls, so selfishly, we wanted a convenient program for them to join,” he says.
Walsh connected with Edward Gartner, director of the USR Recreation Department, who embraced the idea wholeheartedly.
“Edward is the type of person who puts children and community first, which is everything a Rec Director should be,” Walsh says. “He’s been an amazing supporter of this program and has gone above and beyond to help it grow.”
The program currently serves children ages 3 to 14, with practices held twice a week—Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m.—at Lions Park. Sessions are available in the spring, summer and fall.
“Lions Park is an oasis for running,” Walsh says. “The grass is incredibly well maintained, the bathrooms are clean and the park is contained and safe for kids to run freely.”
While Walsh brings a professional athlete’s background to the table, his coaching perspective is shaped by his role as a parent.
“I coach from a place as a parent,” he says. “We focus on what is best for the kids and work backwards from there. Typically once a kid joins Racefaster, they stay within our programs until they join their high school team.”
A standout story for Walsh is that of twin brothers Kyle and Aiden Campanelli from USR. Initially difficult to manage and different in physical build, both boys grew through the program.
“Aiden had the typical runner body, and Kyle was a bigger, stronger kid,” he says. “Fast forward to today—Kyle is a super-fast football player and Aiden is a once-in-a-generation talent. I’d venture to say, Olympic-level talent.”
Beyond physical development, inclusivity is a cornerstone of the program. Walsh says running is uniquely suited to accommodate all abilities and encourages participation from every child.
“Running is such an inclusive sport by its nature,” he says. “Nobody gets benched. Everybody participates.”
This open environment has also made the program a good fit for children on the autism spectrum, many of whom may struggle in sports requiring coordination but find confidence through running.
In the early stages, the program encouraged racing, but Walsh has since moved away from competitions for younger children.
“We found that racing kids at an early age can be intimidating,” he says. “There will be plenty of time to compete as they get older.”
For local families looking to get involved, registration details and program information can be found at www.racefaster.net or by emailing info@racefaster.net.
“We’re proud of the program we’ve built,” Walsh says. “We’re helping kids not only become better runners but also build confidence and community.”
“Our job is to get your kids to love the sport. Developing talent is the easy part.” – Aidan Walsh
“Running is such an inclusive sport by its nature. Nobody gets benched. Everybody participates.” – Aidan Walsh