April 28, 2009

Mother Nature is at it again.  Who knows what the weather will bring and where we will be holding Running Club.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful teachers and staff, as well as all the students we have had join us this year during our events and running club days.  Without them, we could not operate this large group. 

Our group has dropped significantly in numbers.  We started the year with over 200 students… we are averaging about 55-60 now on Wednesdays…. For the 6th graders, keep running and consider joining Miss Ellis for the Cross Country Team.. 5th graders, I look forward to seeing you all again next year.  In the mean time, KEEP RUNNING!!! 

February 25, 2009

Mother Nature finally decided to cooperate with us and let us go outside.  After we stretched in the gym, and made announcements we hit the pavement running.  Six adults ran/walked with about 60 kids.   We ran our usual trail up to the Trail, and then down as far as we could get in the time allotted.  Everybody made it to at least ZZ highway, some made it further, past the City Hall.  Hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate and we can return outside again.  This has been a crazy season with temperatures, up and down….

Please keep in mind that in May, we will have the Conquer Cancer 5K Run here at WIS.  More information should be coming in the next few weeks.

Keep Running!

 

February 18, 2009

Will this weather ever decide what it is going to do?  I would love to be able to go outside and run… I guess that all depends on Mother Nature.  Due to being inside, the number of students that are staying has declined.  Hopefully next weeks forcast will be warmer and we can get outside and run with more kids, teachers, and parents participating.

This week we continued our stay inside with doing a workout video of Plyometrics.  This continues to give the students (and teachers) a good workout and focuses on specific muscle groups that will improve jumping, and running skills.

Keep running!!

February 9, 2009

Running club has been working pretty good… Either outside or inside.  I was unable to attend running club last week, but Miss Ellis tells me that students did very well and got quite the workout with the video.  We will alternate videos when we are inside as I also have one that works on Cardio.  So, when we are unable to be running outside with fresh air, we will be alternating between Plyometrics and Cardio in the gym. 

We are in the early planning stages of the Conquer Cancer Run that Miss Ellis hosts at WIS every year.  Please be looking and listening for information on this end of the year run. 

JANUARY 23, 2009

Wow, have I really gotten behind in my updates.  I want to encourage all running club participants to keep running.  Just because this weather is crazy doesn’t mean we stop.  Dress warm, just in case we are able to go outside.  I would prefer you do not wear shorts, but have sweat pants and a sweat shirt to wear, but able to take off if we decide to stay indoors.  You all know we do workouts in the gym on days we can’t get outside.  We use the dreaded “List”, it is much more work than some do outside, but it is fun, and now I have added a workout DVD on occasion that really works us out. 

For those that want to run in competitions, you can go to OMRR.org (Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners) and see where they are. There is a race about every weekend.  The next “race” that we will participate in is the Conquer Cancer run.  Miss Ellis hosts this event at WIS, but doesn’t not run.  I also help by directing traffic for runners.  We run pretty much the same course that we run during our Regular Running club days.  A date is not set in stone, so keep an ear open and eyes looking for information about this.  This event help support the Relay for Life.

Happy Running!!  

December 16, 2008

Congratulations to all that participated in the Jingle Bell Run benefitting the Arthritis Foundation.  Ten participants from WIS took off at 8:30 and ran 3.1 miles.  A few of our participants finished 4th in their age groups, just missing an award.  Mr. Hayes and Kole Raby both ran their personal best times.  Mr. Hayes beat his personal best by 23 seconds and Kole Raby by 4 minutes.  This was our last race until the Conquer Cancer run sponsored by our own Miss Ellis in late April-Early May.

We had probably our smallest group of runners last week for Running Club.  We stayed inside and broke the kids into two different groups after stretching and announcements.  Kacie Hession, a high school Cross Country State Qualifier, came over to help this week and worked out with the kids.  It was a nice addition to our group.  She jumped right in and worked out just like the rest of us.  She also went with Miss Ellis with the first group, then joined me when we switched.

Keep running, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

 

December 1, 2008

It has been quite the busy two weeks since I last wrote a message.  Numbers have dropped a little in participation for our running club.   This usually happens during the winter months, then after the weather warms up, students start coming back.

Several students/parents took part in the 14th Annual Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning.  We had a nice small group among the 5, 150 runners.  At least the weather was much better than last year, (freezing, 19 degrees, with freezing rain). 

Be sure students dress warm for running club.  Depending on the weather and the number of adults supervising, we will continue to go outside and run as much as possible.  It is much easier to take items off to work indoors, than to be cold running outside. 

Our next venture to run in will be the Jingle Bell Run, December 13th.  Details will be given at Running Club.  Students will be responsible for turning in registration and picking up packets.

Happy Running!!! 

November 12, 2008

Wow!!  I guess time does fly when you are having fun.  We had about 100 students stay and run with us today.  Due to meetings, all of our teachers were not able to join us so we stayed close to the school and ran out back.  Please help to reiterate responsibility and common sense to all those that stay and participate with us.  We want to encourage health and fitness and have fun at the same time, but we are having students goofing around entirely too much this late into the year.  We simply ask that they increase their pariticipation but instead are getting students that lag behind causing some minor discipline and safety concerns as well as causing teachers to not reach their goals.

We do have the Willard Park and Recreation 5K Fun Run taking place this Saturday (November 15, 2008) starting at 8 AM at the Community Center. Students are on their own for registration.

We also are training for the Turkey Trot that takes place Thanksgiving morning at the Hammons Convention Center.  Students are responsible for picking up their registration packets for this 5K / 10K Run as well.  Miss Ellis and I will be participating in this as well.  Be sure to wear layers of clothes and your Running Club T-Shirt.

Dress warm, as we will be going outside as much as possible through the winter months.

Happy Running!!!!!!!!!

 

OCTOBER 22, 2008

Burr!! The weather kind of snuck up on us this week.  Due to the heavy winds and blowing dust, we stayed in the gym today with about 100 students and did our indoor workout.  Students were stating they were pretty sore Thursday.  When we are inside, we work on agility and strengthing drills.  Squats, lunges, foot work, and an exercise called plyometrics.  This works on the heart rate and agility.  We also did more stretching and worked a little extra on our abs with crunches.

This will be our typical winter workout when we are forced to stay inside due to weather.  We will run some outside as it gets colder, so be sure to dress accordingly.  However, if it is raining or (dare I say it) snowing, we will stay inside and work on items from “The List”  ask students what “the List” is.

Thank you for letting your student participate with us.  We are having a good time.

We will be running in and passing out information for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Morning.  Please plan to join us.  This is a much bigger event as they are anticipating over 4000 runners.

SUNSHINE RUN 2008

WOW!!!  What a turn out for WIS Running Club for this event!!  I am so proud of all of you, as is the rest of the WIS.  We had approximately 95+ participate between students, parents, family, and staff of WIS Running Club.  Be sure to check out the Sunday paper as they mentioned something about all the “Yellow” shirts running.

Congratulations to all who participated.  I hope you all enjoyed the event and contributing to a very worthy cause, the Saint Johns Burn Center.

A special Congratulations to Miss Ellis (2nd place) for her age group, Kayleigh Amstutz (1st place), Chloe Andrews (2nd Place) and Lauren Barger (3rd place) for girls ages 10 – 14.  Yes, that’s right, we swept that age group for medals!!  For those that don’t know it, this is the 2nd time in 3 years we have done this!!

 

Week 4 – WIS Running Club

WOW!!  I am again pleased by the number of students that we have voluntarily staying after school to join us in our running club.  We had 135 students and 9 adults yesterday. 

Please remember that the Sunshine Run is coming up on the 11th of October.  We, WIS Running Club, runs in honor of Joshua Thompson, a former student of Willard School District and student of Miss Ellis.  Our goal was to have 100 participants from our Running Club sporting our bright neon yellow shirts.  To date, I believe we are short of that goal.  You can register on line by going to the following link, or by contacting Miss Ellis or myself.  Please join us for this worth cause.  We do have a lot of fun, and it is great to hear and see all the people interested in our group and shirts.

Although most kids are getting to “Z” highway or further, we do have some students that are doing a little to much socializing and need to pick up the pace, only making it to the Junior High parking lot.  The point they should be reaching before having to turn around to make it back in time is the Commerce Bank located by the trail.  Please speak to your child and ask if they are getting this far, if not, please mention my concern.

Thank you to all the parents that show up to pick students up after they participate.  I know the lines are long and you are all tired.  I believe we have got a pretty good system of getting you on your way in the quickest time possible.

http://www.stjohns.com/sunshinerun2008/springfield.aspx
HAPPY RUNNING!

 

WEEK 3 – WIS RUNNING CLUB

I am so impressed by the staff and students of WIS. We have over 200 students, 15 WIS staff members, and several parents signed up for Running Club. We have ordered over 100 new neon yellow t-shirts, and are averaging about 136 students every Wednesday. It is quite the impressive sight to see running through Willard.

Our goal is to first promote healthy lifestyles for students, but also to “train” for the different 5K runs that we participate in. The first is the Sunshine Run October 11th. It starts / ends at Hammons Field. We will meet around 6:45 to stretch, take pictures, and get in place for the starting line. Our sign up goal for the Sunshine Run is 100 WIS Running club participants.

Sunshine forms are can be picked up from Miss Ellis or Mr. Hayes, and are due back by October 1st with money. Please be sure to circle your t-shirt size…  You can also click on the link below to go to the official Sunshine Run 2008 webpage.

http://www.stjohns.com/sunshinerun2008/springfield.aspx
Happy Running!!
__________________________________________________________________________________

Week 2 of WIS Running Club

Ladies and Gentlemen……. We have had an outstanding sign up period for Willard Intermediate School Running Club. As of last count (students listed on sign in sheet) we are around 190 students in our club. The streets of Willard will be blanketed with our neon yellow running shirts.

I am excited about the turn out, but yet concerned as well. I know we have excellent students, but as we travel through the streets, all involved need to be cautious of the hazards and follow guidelines covered by myself and the other adults involved.

Do Not cross a street without an adult around.
Do not run in people’s yards.
There is to be no horseplay or “goofing” around
Wear appropriate shoes (no flip flops or sandals)
We suggest you do not run in jeans.
Listen to all adults supervising.
Set goals to improve your run / walk.

Failure to follow these guidelines can result in a temporary or permanent dismissal from the club.

Mr. Hayes – Co-Sponsor of WIS Running Club

_________________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Willard Intermediate School’s

Running Club!!

Who can join and participate in Running Club?

              All students in 5th and 6th Grade at Willard Intermediate School are welcome to join Running Club.  Parents are also able to join and participate if they are able to. 

What is required at Running Club?

           We ask that students participate on a regular basis.  By participating, we mean we know students can not always run the full distance of our route every week, all we ask is that students set goals and then participate as needed to reach those goals and improve on them month to month.  For instance, if you can not run more than 100 yards, start running for 50 yards, eventually if you keep pushing yourself a little every week, you will be able to run the full 100 yards.  After that, set another goal for 200 yards.

What will we be doing at Running Club?

         Obviously, by the name of the club, we will be running or at least walking at a steady pace.  Before we get to that part, we will meet in the gym, sign in on students appropriate teacher sign in sheet, and give any announcements about upcoming events.  We will then go through a stretching routine and warm up.  After that, we will ask students to partner up with a teacher that each student can maintain a comfortable pace with and go outside for our run/walk.  Should the weather be bad, we will stay inside and do plyometric workouts, work on speed, agility, and heart rates.

What does it cost to join Running Club?

           Willard Intermediate Running Club does not cost students a penny, UNLESS they wish to purchase a neon yellow Running Club shirt or participate in one of the 5K runs we take part in.  We take part in the Sunshine Run, the Turkey Trot, The Jingle Bell Run, and then sponsor the Conquer Cancer Run.  There are a lot of other runs that students are able to participate in if they wish.