Youth Mile prep

Adaptive Sports New England has been training children with mobility and visual impairments for the Boston Athletic Association’s Youth Mile on April 18. (wcvb.com) The clinics have been running at Catholic Memorial High School’s track in West Roxbury ahead of Boston Marathon weekend, WCVB reported on April 11. The race is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, on Boylston Street. (wcvb.com) (baa.org) The Boston Athletic Association says the 2026 Youth Mile is a free event for children ages 7 to 14, and registration is already sold out. The race lets participants run on Boylston Street and cross the Boston Marathon finish line two days before the marathon on Monday, April 20. (baa.org 1) (baa.org 2) Adaptive Sports New England focuses on athletes with visual or mobility impairments, a group that often needs specialized coaching, guides, or racing equipment to compete in track events. The nonprofit says its programs are built to increase access to sports across New England for youth and adults with those disabilities. (adaptivesportsne.org 1) (adaptivesportsne.org 2) The West Roxbury sessions have included wheelchair racing practice and work with adaptive equipment, according to WCVB. Adaptive Sports New England lists youth wheelchair track among its current programs and says its sport clubs are led by Paralympic medalists and other experienced coaches. (wcvb.com) (adaptivesportsne.org 1) (adaptivesportsne.org 2) The Youth Mile is new this year. In a March 23 announcement, the Boston Athletic Association said the event would bring nearly 1,000 young runners to Boylston Street from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 18 as part of the weekend’s racing schedule. (baa.org) Adaptive Sports New England also runs youth programs in swimming, wheelchair basketball, rowing, sailing and track, alongside partnerships with other adaptive and mainstream sports groups. The organization says its goal is to help more athletes find programs closer to home. (adaptivesportsne.org) (adaptivesportsne.org) For the athletes training in West Roxbury, the next step is simple and close: a one-mile race on Boylston Street during Boston Marathon week, with the same finish line used on marathon day. (wcvb.com) (baa.org)