141 'Run for Our Schools' at Harriton

Healthcare professionals say that jogging increases available oxygen to the brain, promotes neurogenesis, and enhances the ability to learn. Welsh Valley seventh grader Jeffrey Gassenheimer says it's "horrible and tiring."

Its biochemical benefits in dispute, Gassenheimer and 140 others nevertheless used the exercise to boost education in the Third Annual Run For Our Schools Sunday morning at .

The 5K race benefits the Education Foundation of Lower Merion, a group that enables the public to directly support educational programs in Lower Merion School District through donations they package into grants. In recent years, the group has established a Wii Club for special needs students at Lower Merion and Welsh Valley, bolstered the audio and visual curriculum at Harriton and Lower Merion, and approved funding for an SAT prep program.

"We've given $100,000 in grants in the five years we've been around," said foundation secretary Debbie Sokil. "And we just think that this is a great event."

The race, in addition to a fall gala, is one of the two large fundraisers the organization runs each year. President Richard Wells said that Sunday's run was their biggest yet.

"It's going great so far," said Wells as the back third of the pack crossed the finish line. "We'll raise several thousand dollars today. I suspect this is our best turnout."

Wells said that one of the main problems his group hopes to eradicate is the district's persistent achievement gap. The achievement gap in the race itself may be an even more intractable problem though.

Sean Clark, 25, crossed the finish line in 16:02—20 seconds ahead of the second place finisher Max Norris and a minute ahead of the third man in—to win the first prize of $100, while Katie Limbach finished in 19:52 to take the womens' division.

Joanna Fisch, who will enter fifth grade at Baldwin Elementary in the fall, finished with a time of 29:40. Her prize was bragging rights over her not-quite-as-fleet brother.

"I practiced a lot for this race," said Fisch, who improved on last year's time by nearly 10 minutes. "I got to beat a lot of the older kids and grownups too. That was cool."

Rich Alan, 68, drove down from Long Island to run for his grandchildren who go to Gladwyne Elementary. Alan was pleased with his time, but not with his intra-age group ranking.

"They usually have five-year breaks in the age group, and one starts at 65 and up," said the impressively muscled Alan, whose time of 29:38 wasn't quite enough to top the 60 years and older division.

"Most of the people in your age group are dead," deadpanned his wife.

"All right," he relented.

In addition to the 141 who participated in the 5K race, 20 took part in a 1.5-mile walk. There was also a fitness fair and a "Track Trot" for younger runners.