Ever the promoter, Gary Bird may be only slightly exaggerating when he calls Friday's Elementary One-Mile Championships in Columbia City the “state championships.”

The truth is stark: Nearly 500 children from all over northern Indiana will converge on Morsches Park on Friday to run for trophies, pizza and T-shirts and be cheered by hundreds of fans. Talk about an introduction to the sport.

But if Friday night is the introduction, then Saturday morning is the continued education and, ultimately, the confirmation. This weekend is truly a celebration of running in the area.

After the Elementary One-Mile come the two largest running events in Fort Wayne each year: Fort 4 Fitness and New Haven Classic. Fort 4 Fitness consists of a half-marathon and a 4-mile run totaling more than 5,000 runners and walkers. The New Haven Classic is a middle school and high school cross country invitational with more than 2,100 runners competing in eight races.

“I think it is phenomenal that there will be so many people running and walking in such a short span of time,” Bird said of the three events. “It really says a lot about our community as runners, coaches, volunteers, fans, parents.”

It all starts with Bird and the little guys at his cross country event. Yes, the races are on grass and spikes are allowed. Bird started the event nine years ago as a Whitley County follow-up to Phil Suelzer's event throughout Allen County.

Suelzer, a psychologist for Fort Wayne Community Schools, eventually expanded his races to include runners from outside Allen County and Bird did, too.

“It has really snowballed,” Bird said. “We'd get kids or schools involved from (Northwest Allen County Schools) because they were so close,” Bird said. “But then we were getting kids from West Noble because of their middle school programs, and their coaches are also runners. Then Huntington started sending kids up.”

Now schools from as far as Lafayette, South Bend and Marion compete in one of six races. There are separate races for boys and girls in third, fourth and fifth grades. And second- graders are welcome, too, but must compete with the third-graders.

For a $10 entry fee each runner gets a T-shirt, finisher's ribbon (or trophy if they finish well enough) and, of course, a slice of pizza and cookies. Bird spoils them - and why not?

“If a kid comes all this way to run one mile and does the best they can, they deserve pizza and a cookie and awards,” Bird said.

Because Bird has promoted the races through many school districts, there is also a team component with cross country-style scoring. Elementary schools that bring five or more runners in a particular race can compete for a team plaque, complete with a team photo, that can be displayed at the school.

Race-day registration begins at 3 p.m. at Morsches Park, just southeast of Columbia City. For more information, call Bird at 1-260-244-4408.