COYOTES SPRING 2026 SEASON
COYOTES YOUTH RUNNING PROGRAM
Coyotes is a fun and supportive running club for boys and girls ages 4-12. Founded and sponsored by Santa Barbara Running Company, our goal is to encourage participation in running and help foster a happy and healthy lifestyle for the youth of Santa Barbara. We love getting kids fired up about fitness, and take pride in the supportive environment we create where each athlete can discover his or her strengths and thrive.
Our coaching style focuses on fun and personal progress as we inspire, challenge, and motivate our athletes to set big goals and consistently work toward reaching them with positivity.
Kids from different schools all around the Santa Barbara area come together to take part in our Saturday morning run club. No experience is needed for our run club. All levels and abilities are welcome to join.
Our next session: Spring 2026
When: Saturday mornings 9:00 - 10:15 am, March 21st - April 25th.
Where: Various parks and open spaces around Santa Barbara (we rotate each week—exact locations will be sent in our team welcome email prior to the start of the season).
Ages: 6-12 years, divided into groups based on age, experience, and goals.
Ages: 4-5 years (Kinder Coyotes - limited to 10 runners).
**Kinder Coyotes parents are required to stay at practice in case your super star runner needs an extra hug or a high five.
Program Details:
Each practice is filled with fun running drills and games, and age-appropriate distance runs to help our young athletes build endurance, get fit and have fun with a squad of supportive teammates. Our runners leave each practice feeling energized and surrounded by team spirit. Together, we will train for a 1-mile race held at the end of the season.
What is Included in our 6-week program:
• Team shirt
• Custom running log
• Incentives that help motivate our athletes each week and celebrate their effort
• Words of the Week and Runners of the Week
• Marathon medal when athletes reach their season goal
• A team philanthropy project, which teaches the joys of giving back to our community
• Participation in a 1-mile race at the end of the season
• End of the season awards celebration with special acknowledgements for each child
• Unlimited smiles, high-fives, and boundless energy
Coaches: Our Coyotes running program is lead by dedicated coaches who are passionate about running, and sharing their joy of health and fitness with the team.
Becky Aaronson is an experienced youth coach, motivator and mom who has been running since she was a young girl. One of her greatest joys is helping kids discover how much fun running can be, and how greatly health & fitness can contribute to living their best lives. She has been coaching Coyotes and other youth running teams in Santa Barbara for over 14 years, and has recently created the Kids Run SB organization to broaden the reach of her running program. She runs for the love of the sport, the mental and physical health benefits, and the fun challenges it brings in a variety of distances and terrains. She is grateful to have experienced the exhilaration of crossing the finish line of two Ironman Triathlons as well as numerous other races, including multiple marathons.
Becca McNees is an accomplished youth coach, marathon runner, teacher, and mom who loves inspiring kids about health and fitness and sharing her passion for running. Her inspirational coaching style blends nearly 30 years of teaching elementary school with her lifelong love of running and athletics. It’s rare, if ever, that you will see Coach Becca without a giant smile on her face.
Lourika Van Tonder is a runner, realtor, and proud mom of two young boys. She has enjoyed running since high school and has run in many different locations around the world including South Africa, Argentina, and China. Lourika brings a deep well of energy and positive guidance to our Coyotes and is excited to share miles of smiles with the team once again during her fourth season of coaching.
Several assistant coaches will also help support and inspire our young athletes throughout all our practices.
COYOTES YOUTH RUNNING PROGRAM
Coyotes is a fun and supportive running club for boys and girls ages 4-12. Founded and sponsored by Santa Barbara Running Company, our goal is to encourage participation in running and help foster a happy and healthy lifestyle for the youth of Santa Barbara. We love getting kids fired up about fitness, and take pride in the supportive environment we create where each athlete can discover his or her strengths and thrive.
Our coaching style focuses on fun and personal progress as we inspire, challenge, and motivate our athletes to set big goals and consistently work toward reaching them with positivity.
Kids from different schools all around the Santa Barbara area come together to take part in our Saturday morning run club. No experience is needed for our run club. All levels and abilities are welcome to join.
Our next session: Spring 2026
When: Saturday mornings 9:00 - 10:15 am, March 21st - April 25th.
Where: Various parks and open spaces around Santa Barbara (we rotate each week—exact locations will be sent in our team welcome email prior to the start of the season).
Ages: 6-12 years, divided into groups based on age, experience, and goals.
Ages: 4-5 years (Kinder Coyotes - limited to 10 runners).
**Kinder Coyotes parents are required to stay at practice in case your super star runner needs an extra hug or a high five.
Program Details:
Each practice is filled with fun running drills and games, and age-appropriate distance runs to help our young athletes build endurance, get fit and have fun with a squad of supportive teammates. Our runners leave each practice feeling energized and surrounded by team spirit. Together, we will train for a 1-mile race held at the end of the season.
What is Included in our 6-week program:
• Team shirt
• Custom running log
• Incentives that help motivate our athletes each week and celebrate their effort
• Words of the Week and Runners of the Week
• Marathon medal when athletes reach their season goal
• A team philanthropy project, which teaches the joys of giving back to our community
• Participation in a 1-mile race at the end of the season
• End of the season awards celebration with special acknowledgements for each child
• Unlimited smiles, high-fives, and boundless energy
Coaches: Our Coyotes running program is lead by dedicated coaches who are passionate about running, and sharing their joy of health and fitness with the team.
Becky Aaronson is an experienced youth coach, motivator and mom who has been running since she was a young girl. One of her greatest joys is helping kids discover how much fun running can be, and how greatly health & fitness can contribute to living their best lives. She has been coaching Coyotes and other youth running teams in Santa Barbara for over 14 years, and has recently created the Kids Run SB organization to broaden the reach of her running program. She runs for the love of the sport, the mental and physical health benefits, and the fun challenges it brings in a variety of distances and terrains. She is grateful to have experienced the exhilaration of crossing the finish line of two Ironman Triathlons as well as numerous other races, including multiple marathons.
Becca McNees is an accomplished youth coach, marathon runner, teacher, and mom who loves inspiring kids about health and fitness and sharing her passion for running. Her inspirational coaching style blends nearly 30 years of teaching elementary school with her lifelong love of running and athletics. It’s rare, if ever, that you will see Coach Becca without a giant smile on her face.
Lourika Van Tonder is a runner, realtor, and proud mom of two young boys. She has enjoyed running since high school and has run in many different locations around the world including South Africa, Argentina, and China. Lourika brings a deep well of energy and positive guidance to our Coyotes and is excited to share miles of smiles with the team once again during her fourth season of coaching.
Several assistant coaches will also help support and inspire our young athletes throughout all our practices.