Lower Schoolers Walk and Run for Fun and Health

Lower School students kicked off this year’s Mileage program on Walk4Fun day on September 23. The Mileage program encourages LS students to track how much they walk or run, with the aim of reaching a big goal by the end of the school year: 2nd-5th grade students are encouraged to reach a marathon (26.2 mi.), and K-1st grade students aim for a half marathon (13.1 mi.).

“The Mileage program encourages students to build healthy habits, stay active, and find ways to engage with their friends and family through running or walking,” said Ben Smucker (Coach Ben), PE Teacher, MS Cross Country Coach, MS Girls Basketball Coach, and one of the US Golf coaches.

For the second year, the program is using “Marathon Kids,” a platform for logging and recording student mileage. Rather than tracking with paper cards and pens, students have ID cards with QR codes that are scanned every time they go around the track. They can also enter miles earned with family and friends online.

The students can rack up their miles during fitness days or they can jog, hike, or run with a family member and complete miles toward the program. Students earn a pair of footies every time they complete 20 laps around the track, which equals a total of five miles.  “Every Lower School teacher has a profile and can participate too throughout the year, so we’re hoping their participation will help us reach our total goal of 10,000 miles for the Lower School,” added Coach Ben.

“When you’re able to quantify and visualize growth, it makes the program all the more accessible and gives kids the tools to create goals, and ultimately, make fitness a part of their everyday lives,” said Coach Ben. “For many students, this will be their very first opportunity to fall in love with running and movement. Incorporating a well balanced, healthy lifestyle begins with on-your-feet exercise, so getting to facilitate a program like this brings me so much joy!”