Fourth graders doing a marathon for exercise, fun

Nicole Boucher
Posted 5/14/15

Everyone says it’s hard to find time to exercise and get active, but for 50 fourth grade students at Holliman Elementary School, they’re making time.

Teachers Shirlie Bacon and Melissa Hatch, …

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Fourth graders doing a marathon for exercise, fun

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Everyone says it’s hard to find time to exercise and get active, but for 50 fourth grade students at Holliman Elementary School, they’re making time.

Teachers Shirlie Bacon and Melissa Hatch, both runners, have inspired their students to get outside and work toward the ultimate milestone: running a full marathon (26.2 miles). Bacon has completed the feat all in one go, but for the students it’s all about setting goals and going one lap at a time until it adds up to the length of a marathon. Not only are the students improving their health and learning how to set goals, they’re also integrating math into their exercise. After each day the students go, they count how many laps they ran or walked around a quarter-mile track at Pilgrim High School, and can then figure out how many they have left to go to reach their next goal. Every time the students go to the track, they are required to do a minimum of four laps at their own pace, whether it is running, jogging or walking. The walk to the track is a warm-up, and the walk back to Holliman is a cooldown afterward.

On Wednesday during their track time, the kids wore t-shirts designed by Hatch and purchased by Dean and Heather Johnson, parents of Toby Johnson, one of the students. Once the students reach their ultimate goal and finish, they’ll earn a charm necklace.

The necklace was meant to be the big prize, but according to Hatch and Bacon, after such a long winter of indoor recesses and now with PARCC testing, the chance to get moving “feels like it’s a reward.”

Marathon Club was meant to start in February, taking place on Friday afternoons, but due to the weather it had to be put off. The students “want to be outside and moving” and “ask every day” when they can go to the track. In an effort to always be ready in case the weather was good for it, the students were instructed, “Wear sneakers to school or bring a pair with you.”

Students Lily Dewar and Justin Muscatelli have reached 14 and 17 miles, respectively. Considering Wednesday was their eighth time at the track, their records are quite impressive. Justin has run farther than any other boy in the group, and Lily has gone farther than any other girl. Both students are involved in sports outside of school, too; Lily plays softball and Justin is a soccer player. According to Justin, he “gets it” from his grandfather, who was a soccer player. While talking, the two seemed eager to get on the track, watching as their classmates completed their first lap.

Parents of the students involved have been giving positive feedback, glad to have their kids getting out and exercising. They are not only pleased to see their children enjoying activity, but also to see them so happy to meet their goals. Though not every child may be a runner or an athlete, some fresh air and activity with friends isn’t a bad way to spend time.

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