Plainfield Elementary School Starts Running Club

Submitted by Plainfield School District 202

Photo: Members of the Central Elementary School Runners Club take a lap at the school during a recent run.

Just after 8 a.m. on a muggy Monday morning, about 80 fourth and fifth graders jogged around the field behind Central Elementary School.

The goal was to run half a mile, or two laps, around the track marked off by colorful cones.

As the students rounded the last corner, Central Physical Education teachers Jason Boersma, Matt Wood and Krista Porter shouted encouragement to the runners who are part of the new Central Elementary Running Club.

The teachers started the Runners Club this year. It meets three days a week before school.

“The club is an opportunity for kids to get additional physical activity and have fun while doing it,” Boersma said.

Aside from distance running, the club members play fun games during the club meetings.

Even though the club has only been meeting since mid-August, Wood said some runners have improved on their half-mile time.

The club also can boost the students’ self-esteem and help them set and achieve goals, including running one or two 5k events this month.

The first event, the “Team Nicholas I’m Possible 5K” is planned for September 20, 2015 in honor of former Central student Nicholas Veghts who died from leukemia in 2012.

The second is the Plainfield Harvest Fest 5K Kids Run on Sept. 27.

Central’s Runner’s Club is modeled after the running club at Wesmere Elementary School, created about three years ago by Wesmere second grade teacher Lee Parrott.

Parrott has run about eight marathons and about 20 half marathons. He wanted to use running to teach Wesmere students about perseverance and motivation.

The Wesmere club begins this month with about 85 third, fourth and fifth graders.

The club’s season ends with a 5k run that Parrott organizes.