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***image1***Ultra-athlete Paul Staso lives in Montana, a long distance from the KMC.
However, students at the Kaiserslautern School Complex (Kaiserslautern and Vogelweh Elementary Schools, Kaiserslautern Middle School and Kaiserslautern High School) did a virtual run across Montana with Mr. Staso April 28 for his P.A.C.E. (Promoting Active Children Everywhere) project.
While he’s running for 18 days to cover 620 miles across the state, the students are busy chalking up the miles to keep up with him. When this free challenge was issued, Coach Tony Jackson thought this would be a good idea as a way to “promote a healthy heart as well as challenge our DODDS students to get out and exercise more.”
Coach Jackson explained that all the students (kindergarten and up) are doing this by participating in normal physical education classes, recess times, as well as weekend activities. Fifth-graders use pedometers loaned to them by Coach Jackson, who tallies up their mileage.
“I think it’s a good idea because it will help kids build endurance and have the strength to run a mile and not get really tired,” said Emily Laws, a fifth-grader at KES in Sherry Jackson’s class. “It’s helped me since we started running because I’m faster now that we’re doing a lot of running.”
Coach Jackson thought this virtual trek across Montana would be a way to tie social studies, math, technology and physical education together. He was able to get coaches Sue Fortunato and Diana Swaim from KMS, Coach Brant Tryon from KHS and Coach Zach Robinson from VES to add their miles so that the complex would compete as a unit.
“I think it’s really good because people might get out and get faster,” said Daniel Cox, a fifth-grader from KES. “They might then be in the Olympics when they get older.”
Visit www.pacetrek.com to keep up with the statistics.
