NATCHEZ — Derek and Leigh Pyron have run together often, but recently decided to make their fitness routine a family affair.

On Saturday, the Pyron family took their new hobby to the streets when all five Pyrons — Derek, Leigh, 9-year-old Lucy and 6-year-old twins Harris and Hartley — competed in the 31st annual River City Classic sponsored by the Natchez Junior Auxiliary.

Derek and Leigh both ran in the 10K race while Lucy, Harris and Hartley took part in the one-mile fun run for children.

Leigh said she and her husband have been running together for a while “as exercise” but the idea of involving their children just came up when they decided to run in the River City Classic.

“I used to be a member of JA and we wanted to support that,” Leigh said. “We also thought it would be something fun and good to do as a family. It was a good way for the kids to get some exercise.”

Leigh and Derek have been running seriously since the fall when they began training for the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon that they completed on Feb. 1.

Derek completed the 26.2 miles and Leigh finished the half-marathon. Both said they were pleased with their results in the race.

“We finished,” Leigh said.

“Our goal was to complete it and we did that,” Derek added. “We were happy with that.”

And after recuperating from that race, the Pyron pair decided that their road racing careers weren’t over just yet and started training for the local race, but this time they had a few extra feet trailing behind them.

Derek said they wanted the children to run with them in the family’s neighborhood to get ready for the race, but said the children’s workouts weren’t extremely grueling.

“They get most of their exercising playing and running around the house,” he said. “They had fun with it.”

Leigh said the children were excited and enthusiastic during the preparation for the race, and the excitement didn’t subside despite an early wake up call Saturday morning.

“They actually got out of bed at 6:30 (Saturday) morning,” she said.

Something Leigh said was unusual.

Harris confirmed his mother’s statement with an enthusiastic nod when asked if he was ready to race.

And while her parent’s said their motivation was quality family time and exercise, Lucy saw the race as a social outing.

“I think some of my friends are running,” she said.

So on Saturday, bundled up in sweatshirts, Lucy, Harris and Hartley took their place at the starting line, accompanied by their father and got off to a fast start when the gun fired.

Lucy was the first of the Pyron trio to cross the line with a time of 10 minutes and 18 seconds.

Her brothers were about a minute behind with Harris finishing the race in 10:50 and Hartley crossing the line in 11:39.

This was the first race for the children, and Derek said he hopes his children enjoy running and continue to use it as a form of exercise, but will leave the choice up to them.

“I hope (they continue),” he said. “But it is not something we will push on them by any means.”