Kids can see how they measure up to animals' abilities Saturday at aquarium - Sept. 27

photo A Tennessee Aquarium otter mascot trains for Saturday's Animal Athletes program.

TRAINING REGIMENThe Tennessee Aquarium recommends the following training schedule to kids and, er, other creatures competing in its Animal Athletes program.• Always remember to stretch from head to tail.• Be sure to get plenty of water, even if you live in it.• Remember that a balanced diet is important for everyone - from herbivore to carnivore and everything in between.• Run, swim, fly, crawl or slither for at least 30 minutes a day.• Get six to eight hours of sleep each night (or day, if you're nocturnal).

DID YOU KNOW?• Some ants are amazing weightlifters, hoisting as much as 50 times their body weight with very little apparent strain.• Alligator snapping turtles can hold their breath for 40 minutes.• Hummingbirds' wings move up and down 80 times per second.Source: Tennessee Aquarium

TRAINING REGIMENThe Tennessee Aquarium recommends the following training schedule to kids and, er, other creatures competing in its Animal Athletes program.• Always remember to stretch from head to tail.• Be sure to get plenty of water, even if you live in it.• Remember that a balanced diet is important for everyone - from herbivore to carnivore and everything in between.• Run, swim, fly, crawl or slither for at least 30 minutes a day.• Get six to eight hours of sleep each night (or day, if you're nocturnal).elp them survive as they search for food and avoid being dinner for someone else."

Ironman's triathletes won't be the only competitors going for glory in Chattanooga this weekend. Kids can see how they measure up to the remarkable abilities of animals in a program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St.

Animal Athletes is a self-guided circuit of 10 challenges that will be set up throughout the River Journey and Ocean Journey buildings and outside on the aquarium plaza. The activities will have kids running, flapping, jumping and even matching their sharpshooting skills to those of skunks, without smelling like they got sprayed.

While attempting the challenges at each station, guests will learn about the special adaptations and attributes that give some animals the ability to go farther, move faster or jump higher.

"We hope that while young guests are competing with their families, everyone gains an appreciation for some of nature's most amazing animal feats," says senior educator Susie Grant. "These remarkable abilities are part of what

Participants can record their scores on cards to be presented at the finish line to receive a prize.

Animal Athletes is free with regular admissn6.95 adults, $16.95 children 3-12). Participants can pick up a bib number and scorecard at the registration table in the River Journey lobby.

After visiting the aquarium, guests can present their tickets at High Point Climbing and Fitness, 219 Broad St., to receive $5 off a Saturday day pass.

Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.tnaqua.org or by phone at 1-800-262-0695.

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