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STARTING RUNNING PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOLS
Best practices for building school running programs
 Running Programs often Culminate in a Fun Run Run, Spot, Run, 1999, Mrs. Goodrow's Class Part 2
Essay and Photo by Carol of KidsRunning.Com
With the publication of the September 2000 issue of Runner's World, this Web site has been flooded with requests from parents, teachers and runners for information on starting a children's school running program. We have also received carefully documented emails with descriptions of how teachers across the nation and Canada have been quietly implementing successful classroom and whole school running programs over the last few years. A major theme that is flowing through these mails is that people want to 'give back' to the kids. One of the missions of kidsrunning.com is to provide a vehicle for communication between committed individuals who share the ideal of giving back to our kids.
Of course, just like anything else, there is no one right way to implement the perfect program, but I'm going to try to share some of the 'best practices' that come from running programs Runner's World and Kids Running know about from across the country as
well as some of the things I have learned from implementing a classroom running program at my school.
Perhaps you want to start a running program and you've never participated in exercise, then start now or recruit some volunteers who are true models for the kids. Keep in mind that you don't have to be a competitive runner, however fitness should be a part of your lifestyle.
 Superintendent John Vitale visits classrooms to read to the kids. 2. The support of the administration is key. If you are hoping for a whole school program you will also need the support of the teachers. You'll need evidence and a proposal to present to faculty members. Be prepared to be flexible and let others help you with the planning. If you are designing a recess mileage program with volunteers, you'll want to make the recording of the mileage simple so as to not burden the teachers with extra work. At another time I'll write ideas on how to do this. 3. You'll need volunteers.Recruit them through a mailing. Attend a parent teacher meeting. There is a good video on Children's Running available from the RRCA for a minimal cost that is very motivating. I have shown it at a PTO meeting at my school system and given it to faculty members to view at home. 4. Start planning your program. Decide if it will be a mileage program, where kids keep track of miles and work for personal or group goals. Choose your incentives for reaching certain milestones. Many school give 'toe tokens' or other trinkets to kids to collect. Other schools incorporate geography and map a route across the country so that the whole school can work toward a community goal. With this type of program, historical facts and points of interest can be studied. If you don't opt for a mileage program, decide on your focus. In any event, a school running program should be fun with participation being the goal. Remember you're not going to be acting as a coach to train kids for the Olympics in an after school program. 5. Find a running route.Work with the school to secure an appropriate running route. Use a track, field, gym, trail, or black top on the school grounds. Use cones to mark off certain distances: 1/4 miles, 1/2 miles, 100m, 200m, 400m etc. 6. Obtain some equipment. Optional equipment includes: cones, stop watch, clip boards, batons, tokens, first aid kit, and running journals, Running journals can be anything from purchased notebooks to school designed bound booklets, with a space to draw a picture, write a couple of paragraphs and blanks to fill in details such as the date, mileage, weather, goals, and perhaps food last eaten before running.  I'm hoping that this web site will encourage our young people to embrace running, stay healthy and be the best they can be. Please stop by again to read what I've written on my tablet. Please email goodrow@infionline.net with comments on this article. 
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