Organizers hope schoolwide 5K run inspires life fitness
January 18, 2011
By Laura Geggel
Issaquah High School students try to stay warm during a 5K involving more than 600 students. By Laura Geggel
The temperature hovered in the mid 30s, but that didn’t stop 621 Issaquah High School students from lacing up their shoes and donning their purple sweatshirts for the first schoolwide 5K run Jan. 11.
Sophomore Madison Wernik admitted the course was challenging, but said, “I was kind of excited, actually. It just seems like a good idea. It unifies us.”
Teachers Buddy Bland and Brenda Middleton spearheaded the run. Both are working on their National Board Certification and had to describe how they connected students with their school and community. To them, the run seemed like the perfect opportunity. The school used an assembly schedule so students would not miss class, and then required all physical education classes to participate, and invited the rest of the students at the school to run.
The race went so well the school plans to have another 5K this spring, Bland said.
“We know that 5Ks are life fitness events,” he said. “We thought we would have one to encourage kids to do these types of events in the future.”
Most participants ran because the race was mandatory for them, but a few volunteers, including junior Yeufef Tuku, ran just for kicks.
“It’s fun, it’s healthy,” Tuku said.
Some students resisted the race, saying they didn’t want to run and get sweaty in the cold January weather. Tough luck, their teachers said, you’re doing it.
“I was like, well, that’s different,” senior Nik Landdeck said, when he learned about the race. “I’ve never heard about that at a school before.”
Many of those who were initially skeptical said they enjoyed the 5K.
“I hate running. My teacher pushed me into it,” senior Rachel Mills said. Still, “I won’t lie, I’m really glad I did it.
“I was really proud, but mostly I was trying to breathe,” she added.
Students, red faced from the cold and excited to have crossed the finish line, headed toward the gym where PTSA volunteers handed them bottled water, fruit and granola snacks.
Incentives By Design donated 100 “Issy 5K” T-shirts to the school for the top 50 runners and to 50 runners who demonstrated outstanding effort. FootZone and Eastside Kickboxing also donated prizes to award runners.
“Personally, I think the idea of having kids more involved with physical fitness and their overall health is a worthy cause, so we felt very good about supporting that,” said Incentives by Design Principal Bill Hirshberg, an Issaquah resident.
Parent volunteers and Junior ROTC members directed runners and traffic throughout the course, and cheerleaders encouraged students near the finish line. A few Junior ROTC students, including sophomore Alex England, joined the race once the last runners had passed by their checkpoints.
Senior Isaac Robinson placed first with a time of 18 minutes, 34 seconds, and senior Rachel Osgood was the first girl to cross the finish line at 20 minutes, 49 seconds.
Freshman Aidan Heninger finished close behind Robinson, in second place. Soccer, track and cross-country keep Heninger in shape and have taught him how to pace himself.
“I go fast at the beginning, slow in the middle and fast at the end,” he said. “I feel good.”
Laura Geggel: 392-6434, ext. 241, or lgeggel@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
