global running day | Run Strong Run

Yes, it’s true. Today is Global Running Day! As a 5th grade teacher, I thought what better way to celebrate than with my students. So, I went to globalrunningday.org, printed off bib templates, and all 70 fifth graders decorated their own #globalrunningday bib. This wasn’t my first time celebrating with my 5th graders. In fact, here’s a picture from last year’s Global Running Day.

And here is this year’s group picture.

This year, instead of telling students how many laps they had to do, I instead set a time goal. I told students that they were to run or walk for 20 minutes. There were a few who tried whining and griping, but I quickly shared with them about the 94-year-old who just set a new half marathon record. Needless to say, I didn’t hear any more griping.

I happily ran around the track in my “I run like a girl” shirt and Adidas Ultra Boost X shoes. Happily, I gave encouragement as I passed each child.

Going out to the track is nothing new with my students. We regularly head outside for a quick lap around the track for a “brain break” in the middle of our school day. The rule for the “brain break” lap is that the students have to stay in front of me. (I walk the lap.) Students will sprint ahead of me, walk, and then as I get closer to them, they’ll scream and sprint ahead again. Throughout our 20 minute track session this morning, there were quite a few screams and statements such as, “How do you keep on running?”

I responded with, “It take dedication and practice.”