Hundreds Of Students Run 9,380 Miles During ‘March Mile Madness’

PLEASANTON, CA — More than 469 middle school students and 22 staff members are coming down from a runner’s high after successfully completing the third annual March Mile Madness running challenge at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton this month. The goal is to run 20 miles in 20 days. It sounds simple enough, but the rules are very strict. Break a rule, and you do not complete the event.

“Students must run the mile on the Hart track for 20 school days in a row, no exceptions, no makeups, no absences,” teacher Willie Brown told Patch via email. “It's a perfect attendance award as well.”

According to Brown, of the 700 students who started the run, 469 successfully completed the challenge. More than 20 staff members joined in again this year. Students who missed running due to illness, appointments or field trips had to make arrangements to make up the mile before school, after or during lunch in order to stay in the race to the finish line.

The runners racked up some serious mileage in those 20 days. According to Brown, students garnered 9,380 miles, while staff members accrued 440 miles for a total of 10,907 miles, which includes the mileage of those who dropped out.

Participation in the event has grown steadily each year. Brown said 155 kids participated during the first year. The second year, 316 students joined the run.

“This is the first year students had a chance at the trilogy, by completing the challenge all three years at Hart for 60 miles in 60 days,” Brown said.

Brown said the program helps motivate students, who often rue the thought of running “the mile."

“We are so proud that we have created a culture where students want to challenge themselves and take a risk to accomplish such a feat,” Brown said.

Their reward? A pizza party, shirt and the gift of understanding their own true grit.

“This event isn't linked to a grade at all,” Brown said. “The biggest prize they get is a sense of accomplishment.”

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Photo courtesy P. Johnson