COEUR d'ALENE - The sky was ominous and opaque. Rain dribbled on the muddy terrain.

The icy wind pierced through clothing.

But as kids stamped their feet firmly at the starting line at Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Wednesday afternoon, there was not a timbre of frustration in their eyes.

Nothing but focus on the rugged course ahead.

The true indicator of a born cross-country warrior.

All kids have it in them, believes Trena Burt.

"Just excitement," the Ramsey Elementary P.E. teacher said of her own students' attitude toward racing this year. "Even the last little one who comes in, everybody's cheering them on."

Maybe that's why the fairgrounds bleachers emitted a commotion of screams and shrieks and laughs on Wednesday, when a record of more than 1,100 kids ran in the Elementary Cross-Country Race held by the Coeur d'Alene School District.

Quite a contrast from the first run 22 years ago, when about 30 slogged on an elementary school yard, said Burt, the event organizer.

"The program has just been so successful. Kids feel they're missing out if they're not in it," said Burt, adding that this is the first year the district has held the event at the fairgrounds to accommodate the number of participants.

Students from kindergarten through fifth grade from several schools participated.

Many of the half-pint athletes had been coached by teacher and parent volunteers before and after class over the past several weeks.

"It's just a really good program for kids who maybe can't get to play in the Parks and Recreation teams or maybe can't afford it," Burt said. "And maybe not every kid can shoot a hoop or dribble a ball, but everybody can run."

Wave after wave they lined up in the fairgrounds arena on Wednesday, the kindergartners, then first grade, second, third and on. The younger kids only had to finish a half mile, while the upper grades churned through a whole one.

With each blow of an air horn, a line of kids blasted off down the field. Some vaulted in front, others wheezed and lagged. Some just aimed for puddles.

But nearly all wore smiles.

"Good," declared Riley Abell, 6, of the quality of the race once he crossed the finish line, free ribbon in hand.

His father, Gareth, was all smiles when he greeted his young athlete.

Gareth enjoys the cross-country event, he said, because of its simplicity and laid-back attitude toward competition.

"I don't want too much competition too young. A lot of parents have their kids doing soccer or football, and kind of force it on them," he said.

His Winton Elementary student has only wanted to run, he added.

"It's his own pace, whatever he wants to do," Gareth said.

Michael Whitby, on the other hand, said his 6-year-old Branson vies for all athletics, including in football, soccer, skiing.

Fitting to add running to the mix, he said.

"I think it's good to compete and be physical," Michael said as his son chugged his free bottle of milk.

Easton Woodard ambled out of the arena wearing a first-place medal around his neck for the boys' kindergarten run.

"It was a little muddy," the Winton student acknowledged. "Someone fell down."

"I'll bet it was hard for you not to stop and help, since it was a race?" asked his mother, Kelly.

Her son was in this for the fun of it, she said, but the medal surely has to feel good.

"He said, 'I want to win first place,' and he won first place," Kelly said with a smile.

Watching at the side of the arena, Shaunta Heilman said her kindergartner, Ayden Charland, had been long anticipating the event, even practicing with his father outside of school.

"He just wanted to run," Heilman said. "He loves to run."

She hadn't anticipated such a crowd, she said, glancing at the throngs in the bleachers.

"It's a little crazy," she said.

Still, the program is a healthy option for her Ramsey Elementary student, she said.

And maybe running with a crowd is good for him.

"It starts to teach him about working as a team," Heilman explained. "About being active."