BE A MILER!

Bethesda, MD—   “I ran faster than I thought I could”, exclaimed a young 8th grade girl at the Grove City Pennsylvania Middle School on the kickoff site for NATIONAL RUN A MILE DAYs.   Grove City got a head start of other groups, PE classes and running clubs.  The American Running Association (ARA) offered to be onsite and showcase Grove City since their PE Department had committed the entire 7th and 8th grade classes again this year after a successful debut in 2009.   May 4th also was the best fit for the PE class schedules.  May 6, 1954 was the date Sir Roger Bannister broke the once-feared SUB-4 minute barrier in the mile.  These middle schoolers sought to measure their fitness while thinking just how fast four minutes for four laps is to run.

On May 6 - 8, the American Running Association (ARA) aims to do just what Grove City Middle School did on Tuesday May 4th:   show our youth and adults that you can break your own perceived barrier of fitness in the mile run.   “Roger Bannister accomplished his feat of the first sub-4 minute mile on a cinder track in 1954 and the kids in schools and clubs in the U.S. can break the barriers of being unfit”, commented ARA’s Executive Director Dave Watt. 

NATIONAL RUN A MILE DAY™ events will be taking place in over 20 states this week.   Middle schools, elementary schools PE classes and corporate offices will all test their fitness with a mile run on the track. “All events are free; no entry fees will be taken,” added Watt.   Some events like the one in Grove City, PA have the added benefit of electronic timing.  In the Grove City Middle School event, ARA’s Board Member S. Mark Courtney lives in Grove City and provided his race timing businesses services gratis for the cause.   “I totally embrace the goals of RUN A MILE DAY and our need to show children and parents that it is vitally important to get our kids more physically active, said Courtney.  

The NATIONAL RUN A MILE DAYs™ is produced by the Bethesda, MD - based American Running Association (ARA).   “We want adults, parents, and kids to see the fun in running the mile.  It is the perfect events to kick start a fitness program for senior adults and youth,” said Dave Watt of ARA...  All event proceeds help produce this national track event and ARA’s free youth walk-run training programs.  ARA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1968 to promote healthy living and active lifestyles among all Americans. It is dedicated to supporting runners through education and specialized programs, as well as encouraging all individuals from youths to adults to run and be fit.  For more information about the ARA or to learn more about the Walk and Run programs, visit www.americanrunning.org.