The enthusiastic runners putting on the miles on the sidewalks and streets of Clintonville are members of the Longfellow Running Club and Bellin Kids For Running Club.
This determined bunch enjoys the physical challenge and the fun they share with friends, parents and teachers as they prepare for upcoming 5K runs and the 10 K Bellin Run.
It is amazing that we started this Running Club in the fall with 10 kids as a before school Running Club. Our runners would come to school at 6:50 and would play basketball or bump volleyballs until 7. We trained from 7- 7:30 and then ate breakfast in the lunch room together. Then the kids would head to class – ready to learn! The club members and their families were very dedicated and their enthusiasm was truly contagious, as our Longfellow Running Club has grown to 46 members. In addition, we currently have 10 parents and teachers that now train with us.
Starting in April, the training times switched from a “before school” running program to an “after school” running program. We simply needed more time to log in more miles as our runners are preparing for 3 mile and 6 mile runs. Many runners will be participating in the May 5th Pigeon River Run and the May 12th You Grow Girl 5K. Many are also training for the June 9th Bellin 10K event.
The training is going great so far! We are following Bellin’s Kids for Running program and will be increasing our mileage up to 6 miles as we get closer to the Bellin Run in June. The kids are working hard. Our parents are supportive and flexible. Families are volunteering to provide after school snacks for our runners. Parents and teachers are running with the kids – serving as role models and helping in learning the “rules of the road” for running and crossing streets. We simply have a great group! We are so proud of their commitment, dedication and great attitudes.
So, if you notice a stream of about 50 runners after school on the sidewalks in Clintonville, you will know that it is the Longfellow Running Club. You can be certain that they are working hard at becoming more fit, while developing habits that will last for a lifetime.