Steely determination
Waynesburg Central Elementary School students walk 22 laps around the gym Tuesday and Thursday mornings as part of the Kids of STEEL program. The goal for some of the participants is to be able to run or walk a mile as part of the Pittsburgh Marathon in May.
Kindergarten through fifth-grade students at Waynesburg Central Elementary School begin their Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 a.m., walking at least 22 laps around the gym, learning how important exercise is to their daily lives.
WAYNESBURG – On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, up to 41 kindergarten through fifth-graders at Waynesburg Central Elementary School arrive at the school’s gym at 7:30 a.m., a half hour before classes begin, and walk and walk and walk.
For most, the walking routine consists of 22 laps, equivalent to one mile, all done in the name of exercise, energy happiness and the camaraderie of working together and finishing together.
These kids have signed up to participate in Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon Kids of STEEL program that could culminate in walking or running a final mile as part of the Pittsburgh Marathon May 2.
The program at Waynesburg Elementary School got its start from elementary teacher Kellie Ann Maute, herself a half-marathoner, who through her participation as a runner, received information about Kids of STEEL.
“There is a community of runners here who have participated in the Pittsburgh Marathon and have a love for running,” she said. “When the program came to light, I thought it would be a good program from our kids to participate in.”
There was a kickoff assembly in November and walking began Jan. 13. It will continue for the next four months.
Basically, Kids of STEEL is an exercise and nutrition program designed to motivate children to pursue quality nutrition and an active lifestyle by incorporating exercise and healthy eating habits into their daily routine.
During a four-month training period, children will earn miles to run the equivalent of a full marathon (26.2 miles) and taste new fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts along the way. Kids of STEEL culminates in one of two optional runs (both held on the Saturday of marathon weekend).
Kids of STEEL has more than 125 schools/sites (about 6,000 kids) participating from 10 different counties. Each participating school has a designated program coordinator who receives a full training manual on how to execute the program, monthly e-newsletters with updates to the program, and helpful nutrition and exercise ideas.
“Waynesburg Central is the only Greene County school participating,” Maute said, and second through fourth grades have the most participants, but all grades are represented,” she said.
Of the 41 youngsters who have registered, 13 are participating in both the Kids of STEEL program and also have registered for the marathon in Pittsburgh. The other 28 are committed to just the in-school Kids of STEEL program, but have the option to register for the marathon down the road.
Maute explained each student has a training log they complete, noting how many laps they walked on a given day, what their weekly mileage total was and how many fruits and veggies they have eaten. Each log must be initialed by a parent or teacher.
In addition to walking around the gym, the students calculate how far they walk within the school. “Some can walk a quarter or half mile a day depending where they are in the building,” Maute said.
“The reaction has been enthusiastic,” Maute said, saying the students are excited about doing something new. Maute noted there is another unexpected benefit to the program. “The kids in different grades have the opportunity to socialize while walking the track,” she said. “Kindergartners really don’t have the opportunity to talk to fifth grade-student during the regular school day.”
Maute also said the district has obtained a grant to transport the students to Pittsburgh for the marathon so there will be no cost to the student.
While Kids of STEEL teaches children the positive benefits of exercise, she emphasized the nutritional aspect of the program is just as important. “We want them to try new fruits vegetables beans and nuts each week,” she said. “We want them to try these foods at lunch, at home or of they are available in the backpack program,” she said.
Whether kids toparticipate in the kids walk/run marathon in Pittsburgh isn’t the ultimate goal. What is, Maute said, is these kids are exercising and hopefully eating healthier.
“It’s hard to find anything wrong with that,” she said.