First Session

When you begin the program, give an introduction and describe the features of JUST RUN and the goals of the program - to get fitter and healthier while developing positive lifelong habits and having fun!  If you have incentives to offer, let them know what they will receive when they reach certain mileage goals. Many schools do not give incentives; they want the kids to learn it's all about developing healthy lifestyles, not getting "stuff." However, we all know that kids like rewards! Very often the school's PTA will donate funding for incentives for "such a great cause." Also, many businesses have donated incentives; they like the idea of contributing to youth fitness. Sometimes schools without funds make their own....colored ribbons to designate specific mileage accomplishments, for example.  On the website, in the Foms section, there are downloadable Mileage Incentive Award Cards that you can print and award to the children when they reach mileage goals.  Remember that praise is MOST important.   

Refer to the Leader Manual and the website for ideas to make your program diverse and unpredictable! 15 minutes of intense drills and relays count for a mile. (The drills and relays are explained in the manual/website and shown in one of the website training videos.) Also, walking for 15 minutes counts for a mile as well. Give them the Club Cards that you can print out and, possibly, laminate. Give them the log sheet (in the forms section) that they can take home for additional mileage.  If the kids run with a parent they get double mileage.This encourages family participation.   Distribute the Mileage Achievement Charts that can be posted in the classroom or at home.

Be sure that the children know that they are trying to reach a group goal, to "run across the United States" by the end of the year and they must all work together to achieve it. Instruct them on how to log onto the website to find their own personal pages; their pages state their own accomplishments as well as showing the map of their virtual journey across the USA and Europe, with links to the places through which they run. Many schools purchase a large laminated map of the USA and put a marker on the distance/location reached by each group. For example, you could have a large pin for Groups A, B, C, and D. Move the markers on a regular basis so everyone can see how the groups are doing....this creates some great competition among the groups!  

Please let me know if you'd like to talk further about the program or if you have questions.  

Email anytime!
Susan