Hello! My name is Martina. I am a middle school teacher at a small school in Ontario. I try to teach through running. Everyone thinks that running is an individual thing. That is true for a non-runner! If one delves beneath all the sweat, and the mileage, one is able to peel away what one needs to be successful in today's world: humor, the ability to be humbled, perseverance, goal setting, comaraderie, discipline, the ability to adapt, to visualize, to plan, and the execute the plan.

I G.I. Jane'ed (shaved) my head for a charity called The Canadian Safe School Network. It exists to promote safe schools. I decided to approach this year's race with my current students in raising funds. To get them motivated, I told them that if they could raise $500, I would shave my hair off! They only had 10 school days. After the first week, if they raised $75, I would nix it half off as a sign of my commitment. I am proud of my small school. They ended up raising $1235.20! Not only did the whole school pitch in, but we had other teachers, parents, and our parent council all come out and help too!

Please check back soon for Meep! Meep! Part 2 . See some photos of her kids and find out about Martina's Marsh Project.

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.