I've got my fourth class started running and it's going great. I've changed my plans a lot. I was going to have them run about four times a week, at a set time of the day (I was thinking of the morning), but I've rethought that. I've decided I can't really justify having them run first thing in the morning, when they are actually in their freshest condition for school work.

Instead, I'm having them run after they've been working long and hard on classwork (usually math in the afteroon).

We use the running as a physical break from the mental work. I call it DEAR time ... drop everything and run!

We'll probably run about three times a week. It was great today...I really got the sense that the kids are beginning to feel that they can improve their abilities as runners, that gradually they'll be able to run a little more and walk a little less. We're keeping track of our mileage on the "Log-a-Mile" charts I copied from the KidRunning.Com Web site, and I'm hoping we'll eventually get our names on the site as 25 milers.

One kind of cool thing is that the class can earn "points" for good behavior in school. Generally, they get points when some other teacher or adult compliments them for their good behavior in the hall, lunchroom, or something like that. When they get a certain number of points (and it isn't that many), they to have juice as a reward when they finish their run, trot, run/walk, or however they approach it.

Today was one of those days -- they had juice at the end (otherwise, I lug a gallon of chilled water).

Everyone goes at least a mile when we run. I find the kids are getting more and more able to trot further and walk less. They look forward to the running, and I've heard good things about it from parents, and also from parents of kids in other classes who wish their kids ran too!

October 18, 2000

I was delighted yesterday when one of the kids in class who really is not a natural runner -- she mixes jogging with plenty of walk breaks in between -- asked if we could go running that day. I'd say everyone is feeling good about the program, they're really noticing the fact that they have more endurance now than they did before.

I couldn't help but notice that Mr. Williams's students look like just about the healthiest bunch of fourth graders that I have ever seen. Congratulations to all of them on their success with running from KidsRunning.Com.

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 send us a description of your running program. Help us share with the school and running communities. Please email carol.kids@rodale.com with comments on this article.