Sessions Elementary students start their day with a run

by Cyril A. Reinicke

More than half of Sessions Elementary School’s 413 students participate in the school’s daily Run Club.

Staffed by parent volunteers Rebecca Pearce, Eddie Baker and Ashley Peterson, the club is open from 7:30 to 7:45 a.m.

The Run Club welcomes all students, from universal transitional kindergarten through fifth grade.

Each school day at 7:30 sharp, students approach the Run Club tables, find their classroom folder, remove their scan card and start their first quarter-mile lap. The school’s PTO funds the scan cards and software program to easily track the laps the students completed and to produce daily mileage reports for each student.

Sessions Elementary parent volunteers Eddie Baker and Ashley Peterson use an app on their phones to scan each student's Run Card at the end of every quarter-mile lap. (Cyril A. Reinicke) — Sessions Elementary parent volunteers Eddie Baker and Ashley Peterson use an app on their phones to scan each student’s Run Card at the end of every quarter-mile lap. (Cyril A. Reinicke)

“I motivate kids and encourage them to stay active,” Peterson said about her role as a parent volunteer. “I arrive early to set up the tables and classroom folders that we keep the scan folders in. As students finish each lap I scan their card.

“By 7:45 students are on their way to class and Eddie, Rebecca and I are re-organizing the scan cards back into the classroom folders for the next day.”

Current research indicates several health benefits of elementary school run club programs. Run clubs encourage regular physical activity and help combat childhood obesity. They also improve cardiovascular fitness and overall endurance.

Running also enhances mental health by reducing anxiety and stress levels. The clubs also foster social skills and teamwork through group activities, and boost self-esteem and confidence as children achieve running goals. The clubs also promote healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

In addition to the mental and physical health benefits, the Run Club awards incentives for achieving specific mileage markers: a medal at 20 miles, $5 in Mr. Frosty bucks at 50 miles and two movie tickets at 100 miles. At the end of the school year, the top three girl runners and top three boy runners receive prizes donated by local businesses.

Mary Greenwood, whose first-grade student Sage Greenwood is participating in Run Club for a second year, said it “is simple good exercise every weekday morning. It is a great way to start the day and helps get some energy out before class starts.”

Second grader Calvin Anderson finishing a quarter-mile lap before classes at Sessions Elementary. (Cyril A. Reinicke)

Lital Anderson’s second-grade son Calvin Anderson ran over 150 miles last year and was among the top three finishers.

“I’m a huge fan of the Sessions Run Club and believe it’s a big advantage for the kids to have the opportunity to run daily,” Anderson said. “I truly want to thank Rebecca and the other volunteers who show up every day and make it a fun and memorable experience for all the kids.”

Those interested in making a donation to the Sessions Run Club to support the student incentives can contact Melissa Zamora at mzamora1@sandi.net or 619-605-3400.