What a Day! Kids RUN THE MILE 2011

Boys and girls from 1^st grade to high school test themselves in the mile

Four laps of a quarter mile is all it takes, yet it can be the first race boys and girls face in school.  American Running’s national outreach campaign, NATIONAL RUN A MILE DAYS, aimed to encourage schools and community groups to run the mile.  The grassroots effort hit towns and cities across the U.S. this past week.  From Anaheim California to Gig Harbor Washington to Silver Spring Maryland, elementary and middle school aged children hit their local track or created a four lap track to race the mile.

“Turnout and school interest was up 30% from last year”, noted American Running Association (ARA) Executive Director Dave Watt.   “We saw growth within schools or community groups that RAN THE MILE in 2009.  PE teachers talked it up to classroom teachers and the next thing you know, the entire school is running the mile.  Such was the case in N Springfield Elementary in Northern Virginia.   For the 2^nd straight year, the lead PE teachers were able to convince all classes that they were going to run the mile.

“What a day?” commented Larry Herschler after 650 students ran the mile at Gauer School in Anaheim, California.  “We had the kindergartners and 1^st and 2^nd graders participate too.  All the teachers in the school joined in”, added Herschler.

Mark Courtney of Grove City, Pennsylvania offered his Champion Chip timing business at Grove City Middle School for the third consecutive year.  Courtney is an icon in the small city and his volunteer role does not go unnoticed by the school’s staff and parents.  The PE teachers love RUN A MILE DAYS as they now have an electronic-timed mile each spring.  “Running is some much a part of my daily life that it was a no-brainer to assist the American Running Association (ARA) with NATIONAL RUN A MILE DAYS”, said Courtney.  

In Gig Harbor and Tacoma Washington the daily drizzle did not damper enthusiasm by the boys and girls throughout the Peninsula – Gig Harbor School Districts.  Smiles abounded as young milers were high-fived with marker pens at each lap to help the runners count up to 4 completed laps.   Over a day period, eight (8) elementary schools lined up each classroom and ran a mile on the school cinder or soft-paved track.  Originally there were two schools signed up then four in one District.  With a month to go the number had jumped to 8 schools encompassing two adjoining school districts. 

May 6, 1954 was the day Roger Bannister broke a seemingly impenetrable barrier in the 4 minute mile.  From May 1 thru 8, young students across the U.S. showed teachers and parents that there is no barrier to running a mile.