Stories And Inspiration

Mary Lynn England is not a runner. But the pre-K assistant teacher has found herself on her school’s GO FAR team, training for their March 7 race.

“My third grader wanted to be a part and asked me to do it with her,” she said. “How could I say no to that?”

England has never been successful with a running program and always felt discouraged due to her asthma. The new GO FAR club at Calvary Baptist Day School changed that.

“I have already seen increased endurance and have had more energy,” she said. “Plus, it has been a bonding experience for my daughter and me.”

The coaches can see the benefits too. The school had a running club in the past, but they like the GO FAR program’s well-rounded curriculum. “It is a program that is easy to follow,” said coach Tiffany Reece. “I knew it was a structured program that incorporated not only fitness, but fun activities for the kids to do while they are exercising.”

Reece, a longtime GO FAR volunteer and past coach and board member, pushed to bring GO FAR to her kids’ school. She liked that it was kid friendly and also focused on healthy eating, good choices, and good character traits.

Now in their seventh week of training at Calvary, about 30 kids devote themselves to running each week.

“We’re giving them that first experience of racing and how to prepare and not bombarding them,” said coach Mary Ann Coffey, who also coaches Calvary’s middle school cross-country team.

She likes that the GO FAR curriculum incorporates sportsmanship, stretching, pre-race foods, sipping water while running, and where to stop and tie your shoe during a race.

Coffey said about half of the club is new to running. Some kids are using GO FAR to build endurance for spring sports. “We’re grabbing a population that we never thought we would,” she said.

And some of the teachers are running too. Whatever their reasons, England said the kids take notice. It’s a lesson that’s not part of any curriculum. “I think it motivates them to work harder,” she said. “It was always fascinating to see what my teachers did on their own time. I think that the teachers involved in the program are demonstrating a healthy lifestyle for these children, and it does not go unnoticed.”

Come out and run with the Calvary Baptist Day School Cougars! The Third Annual Cougar Challenge 5K and Fun Run will be held March 7 at 8:30 a.m. You can register online at www.cbdscougars.com. All proceeds benefit the Nathan Clark Scholarship Fund in honor of a student who passed away last fall.