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DEL.ICIO.USSchool marathon gets kids into habit of exercising
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
She used to come home and start doing her homework right away.
Not anymore.
Now, most evenings when Gracie Whitney gets home from school, the third-grader grabs a book and hops on the treadmill.
Thank the marathon held this fall at her school, Mountain Park Elementary. Hundreds of students, and a half-dozen or so teachers and faculty, took part.
They had to walk or run a mile every day last month. The exercise had to take place outside of the regular classroom or physical education class. The kids could log time on the campus track during recess or after school. They also could use treadmills at home or take walks with family.
Those who completed 13 miles received a pedometer. T-shirts were given to those who completed 26 miles — a mile a day everyday.
Jeffrey Peterson, a P.E. instructor, came up with the voluntary marathon. He wanted to move kids toward fitness. He called me a few days before Christmas to share the results: More than 100 kids earned a T-shirt and right at 320 got pedometers at the Lilburn campus.
“A great success for the first try,” said Peterson, an avid jogger. “They all did it on their own. It was a matter of choice, and I was pleased with the number of families that participated with the kids. We’re going to make this a tradition.”
The whole idea for the marathon was to promote fitness, to make it an everyday affair. That’s one reason the kids had to do a mile a day, everyday, to win the T-shirt. Marathon rules disallowed participants to log several miles in one outing.
Peterson and Todd Kearney, the other P.E. instructor, stress to kids the importance of daily activity beyond organized sports. When it comes to exercising, Mountain Park in Lilburn is an anomaly: Students have P.E. every other day.
“We are lucky,” said principal Debbie Allred. “We’re a small school (648 students), so we can spend a little more time with that.”
It is hoped that the exercising will continue now that the marathon is over. Peterson thinks it will. He jogs in the nearby park and along neighborhood roads so kids can see him practice what he preaches. He’s noticed an uptick in the number of Mountain Park students and relatives out walking or jogging.
“We’ll see, after the holidays, if it continues,” he said.
For Gracie, who earned a marathon T-shirt, exercise has become routine.
Her mother, Wendy Stoner, told the 8-year-old she’d be rewarded with special activities, like a night of bowling, if she keeps it up. Gracie told me she planned to.
“I honestly think she is so used to doing it now that she doesn’t think about the reward,” said Stoner.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail rbadie@ajc.com.
Note: Rick Badie’s column will resume Jan.8.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By Mark
December 28, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
Chirp, chirp, chirp.
By Airborne
December 31, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this
You know what mark?that chirp,chirp,chirp,tells me just what you really are.A flightless bird,which is extinct.A dodo bird.Since you’re so smart look it up college boy.
By Mark
January 3, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
airborne
My chirps are reflecting the sound of crickets. I don’t have to look dodo bird up, moron. I was educated in a nice white school unlike you, who probably has an inner city education. I didn’t run into the service to avoid an education like you.
By Airborne
January 4, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this
For your information,i did’nt run into the service to avoid an education.I was drafted out of college in 1963.I did’nt avoid the draft,knowing that i could’ve gotten a deferrment,i was man enough to serve my country to protect cowards like you who hid behind there parents.In fact i gave the military 15 years of service to continue to protect this country.As far as college is concerned,i was man enough to go back to school and graduate with honors,and by the way i did go to an inner city school.Just goes to show you that i did’nt have to go to a private school for protection.I survived in the hood and still visit my hood,and still welcomed.Another thing you need to know,i represented the U.S.Army at the 1976 Olympics as a boxer.Yes i was on the same team as Sugar Ray Leonard,Howard Davis,The Spinks brothers,Leo Randolph.What have you contributed to this country that’s worth talking about?Since you can communicate with the crickets,it’s the food the dodo birds ate.Boy you’re slow.Last msg to you, have a happy life.By the way i graduated from a private college that produced,lawyers,judges,tax accountants,and business professionals.Its hard coming from the hood and being educated.Know my history,before you start running your pie-hole.The college was mixed and everyone got along fine.Oh yes it did cost to get in and you had to have a pretty good aptitude for entrance.Don’t believe everything you read about us,because we’re moving up the ladder.You better watch out i might be your boss one day.My bag you work from home,probably afraid to work amongst people,because a “nog” might move you out of position.Remember smarty,”He who rules first shall rule last”.Keep that in mind,your day is coming and i hope to meet you,if you don’t commit you know what just to save face.