How to Use Mileage Club® to Power Your School Fun Run

Get Students Moving Before, During, and After Race Day

When it comes to creating a fun run that's not just fun - but meaningful, motivating, and impactful - Mileage Club is your go-to program. Developed by Fitness Finders, Mileage Club has helped millions of students across the country get active during recess, PE, and beyond.

Here's how you can use Mileage Club to supercharge your school fun run and turn it into more than a one-day event.

What is Mileage Club?

Mileage Club is a flexible, low-cost running/walking program that helps students log miles over time, earn rewards (like Toe Tokens), and develop a love of movement. It's used year-round by thousands of schools - but it's also a perfect lead-up or complement to your annual school fun run.

How to Use Mileage Club Before the Fun Run

Build Excitement and Endurance

Turn your fun run into a culminating event with a 4 to 6 week Mileage Club Challenge.

• Goal: Help students "train" for the fun run by completing laps at recess, during PE, or after school.
• Track Progress: Use Mileage Club lap cards, sticker charts, or EZ Scan to log miles.
• Motivate: Give Toe Tokens for every mile (4 laps = 1 mile) to show progress and build enthusiasm.

Example Goal: "Let's see who can walk or run 10 miles before the big run!"

During the Fun Run: Bring Mileage Club to Life

Use everything you've built in the weeks prior to creating a high-energy, goal-oriented fun run day:

• Set up your track or route with lap stations
• Award bonus tokens or themed charms for each lap
• Let students log laps in real time using EZ Scan
• Celebrate those who've hit personal milestones

Tip: Create a Mileage Club banner or wall display with every student's total miles!

After the Run: Keep the Momentum Going

Your fun run shouldn't be the end - it should be the launchpad for more movement:

• Continue Mileage Club weekly or monthly
• Track ongoing progress and celebrate every mile
• Introduce classroom competitions or family challenges

Recognition Matters: Celebrate "Marathon Milers" (26.2 miles) or "Club Champions" who hit high milestones.

Why This Works:

• Help students set short and long-term goals
• Builds fitness and endurance over time
• Creates a culture of movement in your school
• Encourages daily activity, not just race-day participation

Final Tip

Pair Mileage Club with Fitness Finders Toe Tokens, awards, and EZ Scan, and your fun run becomes more than just a one-day race - it becomes a movement that lasts all year.

How to Use EZ Scan™ to Streamline Your School Fun Run

The Smart, Simple Way to Track Every Lap

Planning a fun run for 100 ... 200 ... 500+ kids? Amazing! But counting all those laps by hand? Not so fun. That's where EZ Scan comes in - Fitness Finders digital lap tracking tool that makes fun runs smooth, accurate, and stress-free.

Whether you're running a single class or the whole school, EZ Scan helps you track student progress in real time - no clipboards, no chaos.

What is EZ Scan?

EZ Scan is a QR Code-based lap tracking system built specifically for schools. Each student gets a unique code on a card or badge, and every time they complete a lap, a teacher or volunteer simply scans the code using a mobile device or tablet.

It's that easy.

How to Set Up EZ Scan for a Fun Run

1. Sign Up & Create Your Event

Log into your EZ Scan dashboard and set up your school fun run event.

2. Add Students

Upload a student list (name, grade, class) and generate QR codes.

3. Print QR Cards

Print and laminate cards with each student's code - lanyards or shoelaces work great!

4. Set Up Scan Stations

Assign volunteers with phones/tablets to scan students at the end of each lap.

5. Track in Real Time

Laps are instantly recorded and stored. Teachers can view results by student, class, or school.

Bonus: Export the data to spreadsheets or use it to award prizes based on performance.

Why Use EZ Scan for a Fun Run?

• Eliminates manual counting errors
• Saves time for teachers and volunteers
• Provides real-time tracking of laps
• Easily integrates with Mileage Club and Toe Tokens rewards

No more "Did Jamie run 4 laps or 6?" - you'll have the answer in seconds.

Awarding Made Easy

With accurate lap counts, you can:

• Award Toe Tokens by the lap or mile
• Give medals to top finishers or most improved
• Recognize effort and participation across all grade levels

Pro Tip: Use scan data to make an awards ceremony or display wall - students love seeing their names and progress.

EZ Scan in Action: A Sample Fun Run Timeline 

Time                                       Activity

8:30 AM       Students check in and receive QR badges

9:00 AM       First group starts running

9:45 AM       Volunteers scan as students pass the lap stations

10:30 AM     Laps tracked, results live!

11:00AM      Awards handed out by grade and milestone

Final Thoughts

When it comes to organizing a school fun run, simplicity + accuracy = success. With EZ Scan, you can run a smooth, exciting event that keeps students engaged and lets you focus on what matters - celebrating movement and achievement.

Visit Fitnessfinders.net to get started with EZ Scan and explore award bundles, tokens, and everything you need for your most organized and exciting fun run yet.

Make Your School Fun Run Unforgettable with Fitness Finders Awards

A school fun run is more than just kids running laps - it's a celebration of movement, teamwork, and community. Whether you're hosting your first fun run or looking to elevate your annual event, the key to making it truly unforgettable lies in one word: motivation.

At Fitness Finders, we specialize in helping schools get kids moving - and loving it. Our tools and resources make organizing a fun run easy, engaging, and rewarding.

What Does Fitness Finders Offer?

We provide schools with proven programs and motivational tools that get kids excited about physical activity:

• Mileage Club: A nationally recognized walking/running program used in thousands of schools to build healthy habits through consistent movement.
• Toe Tokens: Small, colorful shoe charms earned for distance milestones - kids love to collect and wear them proudly.
• EZ Scan: A user-friendly lap tracking system that makes managing events like fun runs simple and efficient - no clipboards or counting required!

Together, these tools turn an ordinary fun run into an organized, exciting, and memory-making event for every student.

Why Use Fitness Finders for Your School Fun Run?

Whether you're planning a field day finale, a fundraiser, or a wellness week highlight, a school fun run is a fantastic way to encourage fitness and build school spirit. But what really makes it shine?

Structure + Motivation + Celebration = Success

Here's how Fitness Finders brings those elements to life:

1. Use Mileage Club to Build Momentum

Mileage Club is a simple, flexible walking/running program that helps students set goals and track their progress. It's easy to implement before your fun run as a training challenge, or during the event as a way to track and celebrate each lap.

How to Use it for a Fun Run:

• Start a "Countdown to the Fun Run" challenge during recess or PE
• Let students accumulate miles or laps in the weeks leading up to the event
• Use this progress as motivation - "Can we reach 100 miles as a class before race day?"

Bonus: You're creating healthy habits that last well beyond the event.

2. Reward Participation with Toe Tokens

Every lap or mile becomes a mini celebration when students know they'll earn a Toe Token. These brightly colored charms can be added to shoes or backpacks and serve as a badge of accomplishment.

Ideas for Use:

• Give a different color token per lap or mile
• Award themed tokens for event completion or personal bests
• Let students build token "chains" to wear during the event - an instant confidence booster!

These tokens not only boost motivation but also provide a physical representation of hard work, which is incredibly impactful for elementary and middle school students.

3. Organize Seamlessly with EZ Scan

Forget paper tally sheets and counting laps by hand - EZ Scan is your best friend on race day.

How it Works:

Each student receives a unique QR code card

As they complete laps, they scan their card using a smartphone or tablet

Laps are automatically recorded and can be viewed or exported later

Why It's Perfect for Fun Runs:

Reduces the need for extra volunteers or manual counting

Gives you real-time data for awards and recognition

Works with any number of students, from a small class to the entire school!

Make It Memorable: Awards, Themes, and Community Involvement

Now that you have the tools, here are a few creative ways to make your fun run a school-wide celebration:

Theme Ideas:

• Superhero Sprint
• Color Dash
• Glow Run
• Read & Run Literacy Lap (tie into book week!)

Award Categories:

• Most Laps Completed
• Best Sportsmanship
• Best Costume
• Class with the Most Collective Miles
• Personal Improvement Awards

Involve Families:

• Invite parents to run or volunteer
• Offer family lap challenges
• Celebrate with post-run popsicles or photo booths

Ready to Plan Your Fun Run? Time to Make it Happen

Planning a school fun run doesn't have to be overwhelming - it should be energizing and fun for everyone involved. With the right tools in place, you can create an event that motivates students, builds community, and encourages lifelong healthy habits.

Fitness Finders gives you the framework to make it happen:

Mileage Club = structure and long-term motivation

Toe Tokens = excitement and reward

EZ Scan = stress-free organization and tracking

So this year, don't just run - run with purpose, run with pride, and run with Fitness Finders.

Explore awards, learn more about Mileage Club, and try out EZ Scan at Fitnessfinders.net

Let's make your next school fun run the best one yet!

How Movement Rewards Can Improve Focus and Participation

If you’ve ever watched a student start to fidget during a math lesson, you know how essential movement is for learning. Recent studies support what educators have known for years. Active bodies = engaged minds. Research shows that even short bursts of physical activity can dramatically increase students' attention, memory, and participation.

But it’s not just about more PE time. It’s about integrating movement into the academic day in a structured and motivational way.

Here’s How Movement-Based Incentives Boost Learning:

• Brain Activation - Movement increases oxygen to the brain, which enhances cognitive function.

• Mood Regulation - Physical activity releases endorphins that reduce anxiety and help with emotional regulation, improving mood and reducing stress.

• Classroom Management - Short activity breaks help reduce behavior problems and increase time on task.

• Participation - Participation in academic activities improves.

Movement Rewards, Like Toe Tokens and Twirl Flags, Offer:

• Clear goals

• Instant recognition

• Physical activity in short, manageable bursts

How Rewards Help:

Using tools like Toe Tokens and Mileage Club transforms movement into something students look forward to. They associate physical activity with success, pride, and community.

Tips for Teachers:

• Try 3-minute movement breaks between transitions.

• Use visual trackers to build goal-setting skills.

• Celebrate milestones with fun, movement-based prizes.

Start the school year with a classroom built for energy and engagement. Browse movement rewards today.

Donating to a Public School: Support Underfunded Schools

 Your donation could help reach more than one underfunded school, help thousands of children, and bridge the funding gap.

How Are Schools Funded?

Schools are primarily funded by the government through taxes and public funding. Local districts use property taxes to fund schools, and the economic condition or tax base of the area influences the amount of funding the schools receive. This discrepancy in funding creates funding gaps. 

Districts with a lower tax base suffer the consequences of poorly funded schools. Poorly funded schools rob millions of children of the opportunity to succeed due to limited access to necessary tools and resources.

Underfunded School Gap

Underfunded School Demographics

High-poverty schools receive significantly less money per child each year.

Impact of Underfunded Schools

• Lower Quality of Education

• Limited Extracurricular Activities

• Limited Advanced Courses

• Limited Educational Resources

How Much Money is Donated a Year?

On average one in three people will donate to a charity around the world and cash giving is around 500 billion dollars. In 2022 charitable giving decreased 3.4% and an estimated $499.33 billion was raised.

Benefits of Donating to Charity

Helpers High

An NIH study found that when people give to charities, the regions in the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust are activated, releasing endorphins in the brain, a feeling known as “the helper’s high.”

Mental Health

It feels good to help others, studies show that acts of kindness like donating to a charity has a positive impact on happiness. Regular acts of kindness or practicing gratitude have been linked to improve mental health because it creates more interaction between the parts of the brain associated with processing social information and feeling pleasure. The brain produces more dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin which positively impact mood and disposition. 

Community

Finding and creating community is one of the most important parts of being human. Giving back to your community can help you feel more connected not just to other people but where you live and the world as a whole. 

 

Impact

Charitable donations are a great opportunity to make an impact on the lives of others. For example, a donation to Fitness Finders Foundation helps provide equipment, incentives, and support for young participants to learn about teamwork, goal-setting, self-confidence, overall health and wellbeing both mentally and physically through Mileage Club Program. 

When you give to charity, you can help positively impact the next generation. Charitable donations can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment knowing that your actions are going to a good cause that is dear to your heart.

Tax-Deductible

Donations to charities and nonprofit organizations are often tax-deductible. Fitness Finders Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, donations qualify for a tax deduction.

Why Donate to a Non-Profit?

Each year, individuals, bequests, corporations, and foundations donate billions of dollars to charities. When you donate to Fitness Finders Foundation, you’re helping to promote health and well-being among children in underfunded schools. 

How Can You Help?

Take a holistic approach to wellness through Fitness Finders Foundation. Founded by Dr. Charles K and his wife with a mission to enhance the health of people across the globe. In 1986 the Mileage Club walk/run program was created to offer knowledge, support, and tools to track physical activity. 

The Mileage Club Program has helped millions of children over the last 40 years to increase their physical fitness level, cognitive thinking and learning, manage behavior and emotions.

So what does Mileage Club have to do with underfunded schools and how can you help?

By donating to Fitness Finders Foundation Mileage Club GoFund.Me Fundraiser, you allow us to provide equipment, incentives, and support for children in underfunded schools. We can help students who are missing out on receiving proper education, brain breaks, fitness programs, etc. around the globe.

How Will Fitness Finders Foundation Use My Donation?

With your support and donations, Fitness Finders Foundation can provide children with equipment, incentives, and support to promote health and well-being among children in underfunded schools through its Mileage Club Program.

Why Mileage Club?

• Fight Obesity

• Encourage Fitness

• Enhance Focus & Concentration

• Improve Overall Cognitive Function

• Foster Positive Habits

• Teach Teamwork

• Set Goals

• Build Self-Confidence

How to Donate?

Join our Mileage Club Campaign and help contribute to our $50,000 goal which will directly benefit schools lacking resources for physical education. You can make a difference by donating today.

The Power of Brain Breaks: Energizing Minds Through Movement

In the bustling world of education, we often emphasize continuous learning and academic rigor. However, there's a secret ingredient to maximizing student engagement and enhancing learning: Brain Breaks. 

These short, energizing pauses are crucial, especially for young students who can benefit immensely from a change of pace during their day. Let’s dive into why Brain Breaks are essential and how incorporating simple activities like walking and running can transform the classroom experience. 

The Science Behind Brain Breaks

Brain Breaks are not just a fun diversion; they're a necessity backed by science. Research indicates that regular breaks during learning improve attention and performance. A study by the University of Illinois found that brief diversions from a task can significantly improve one's ability to focus on that task for prolonged periods (University of Illinois, 2011).¹ Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics highlights the positive impact of physical activity on cognitive skills and attitudes necessary for academic achievement.² 

Why Movement Matters

Incorporating movement into Brain Breaks, such as through walking or running, is particularly beneficial. Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which boosts cognitive functions and promotes neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells). It also helps in releasing endorphins, the body's natural mood lifters. This boost in mood and brain function is crucial for children, who often find it challenging to sit still and concentrate for extended periods. 

The Role of Mileage Club 

Integrating a program like the Mileage Club into Brain Breaks can be highly effective. This program encourages walking and running in a structured yet fun way, enabling students to track their progress. It's not just about physical movement; it's about setting goals, achieving them, and feeling a sense of accomplishment. While the focus is not solely on walking or running, these activities serve as a vehicle for students to experience the benefits of Brain Breaks. 

Practical Implementation 

Implementing Brain Breaks in the classroom is simpler than it sounds. A Brain Break can be as easy as a five-minute walk around the school or a short jog on the playground. Teachers can use this time to engage with students in a more informal setting, further strengthening their bond. 

Creative and Fun Ideas for Brain Breaks

1. Nature Walks

Encourage students to observe their environment and discuss what they see.

2. Relay Races

A fun way to get the heart pumping and instill a sense of teamwork.

3. Dance Breaks

Let students shake off the cobwebs with a quick dance session

4. Stretching Exercises

Gentle stretches can help relieve physical tension and mental stress. 

Student Involvement 

Empowering students to take charge of Brain Breaks can be incredibly beneficial. Allowing them to choose the activity or lead the session gives them a sense of responsibility and ownership, enhancing their engagement and enjoyment. 

Conclusion 

Brain Breaks are an essential tool in the educational toolkit. Combining scientific evidence with practical, enjoyable activities can create an environment where students are more engaged, attentive, and ready to learn. Incorporating walking and running through programs like Mileage Club offers a structured way to implement these breaks. Still, the focus should always remain on the overarching goal: re-energizing the mind and body to enhance learning and well-being. Let's give our students the gift of movement and watch them thrive! 

References 

1. University of Illinois. (2011). Brief diversions vastly improve focus, researchers find. 
2. American Academy of Pediatrics. The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. 

Improve Your Running Program By Recognizing Their Milestones

Toe Tokens® are everyone's favorite Mileage Club® award. They are so very effective in motivating kids to run instead of sitting during recess. Students are excited to collect every color of foot available.  And they get to wear a lanyard showing all of their friends how far they have run.

Now you can leverage the amazing motivational benefits of Toe Tokens with Milestone Awards!

Milestone Awards are for the long-term, bigger goals you help your students achieve.


Unlike Toe Tokens, which are meant to be earned by everyone, a Milestone Award is designed to be reached by the hardest working students. For the kids who refuse to miss a running day due to bad weather or those who request a makeup day following an illness. You will probably only have a few of these students in your program. These special “Milestones” are not intended to be reached by everyone.

Mileage Club Milestone Award Table

    Milestone Awards must be unique and special. Reaching difficult milestones deserves bigger awards. Because of this, we just added a new product to our lineup called the Snap-On Toe Token Charm. This award is larger than your standard toe token and is made of a rubberized material that is soft and pliable. 

The Snap-On Toe Token Charm is designed for encouragement and style! The patented snap technology makes it simple to snap on and snap off these awards on almost anything. This technology was originally designed to get away from the sharp pins used to hold a bib onto your shirt when running a road race. 

Show off these special Toe Tokens on your favorite clothing and accessories without the fear of ruining them! Snap it onto a shirt, watch bands, a backpack, a hat, or a shoe.   

Try our Snap-On Toe Token Charm for one of this season’s Milestone Awards for your top runners, and you will see your program "run" better than ever. 

Build Better Behavior with Running: Benefit From Having a Running Program

Perhaps you’ve had this happen to you as a kid, or maybe to one of your own children: after forgetting to complete your homework or throwing a little tantrum in the classroom, you were denied recess time. Instead of enjoying recess time, you were forced to sit quietly at your desk and complete schoolwork. 

It’s quite a common practice for teachers and administrators to deal with unruly behavior.  In fact, a 2006 study from the CDC confirmed that a whopping 81.5 percent of elementary schools allowed faculty to exclude students from recess as a form of punishment.1 This probably stems from the misconception that kids running around during recess rewards the student for improper behavior. 

However, this disciplinary method is counterproductive—and can cause even more difficulties in the classroom. To see fewer of these issues, get kids running. You read that right, and to be clear, we are not suggesting using running as a form of punishment. 

It makes sense. The more kids exercise and run, the more energy they burn—allowing them to reenter the classroom with a fresher, calmer mindset. In 2010, researchers conducted a study on elementary school children, comparing kids’ behavior in class on recess and non-recess days. Without a doubt, the students were more on task and less fidgety during the recess days. Jarrett and her colleagues also noted all the children with ADD benefited from the exercise. 2 

Additionally, a separate study in 2019 examined student behavior in the classroom after implementing a run club program. The results showed that classroom behavior significantly improved after participating in the run club—the results were a difference that was “not seen prior to the start of the program.” The researchers went on to conclude that physical activity can decrease disruptive activity in the classroom. 

This isn’t surprising. Our customers have repeated this since the 1990s. A Mileage Club during recess reduces playground hassles and allows kids to run off their energy so they can settle down and more effectively learn. 

Besides getting much-needed exercise and physical activity, run clubs also promote social interaction between peers, provide brain breaks after studying long and hard, and encourage kids to get creative and use their imaginations. But above all else, be reassured that a fun and engaging run club like Mileage Club also helps kids rein in their emotions and behavioral outbreaks. 

If you aren’t running yet, don’t you think your school could benefit to improve in this area? 

❄️Treat Your Students To Their Own Run Through the Snow! ❄️

In honor of our  "Race With The Sled Dogs Program", we asked Coach White from Orion Elementary in Anchorage, what it’s like to operate a run club for students in Alaska. Here is what she said...

Do students run outside in the snow or inside the school?

We run outside in the snow. Getting fresh air is important, especially during the long, cold, dark winter months. On Dec 21st, Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day of the year, we typically only have 6 hours of daylight here in Anchorage. The sun doesn't rise until about 10am and sets by 4pm. Further north in the Arctic Circle, they have several weeks where the sun doesn't rise above the horizon at all!

How cold does it get? 

I've seen it as cold as -20 here in Anchorage. Further north in Fairbanks it is common for it to reach -40 in the winter. Our typical winter temp is about 20 degrees for a high and in the teens or single digits overnight.

Do you use EZ Scan to scan laps? Does the tablet work when it is really cold outside? 

Yes, we use EZ Scan to keep track of our mileage during the running season. We keep our iPads inside the entryway in the window sill facing out so that kids can scan through the window after each lap and the iPads stay nice and warm!"

Interview Date: 2019

 

2020 Mileage Club hits 250,000 miles!

Listen to Amy Nieuwenhuis (Teacher and Mileage Club Leader) tell us about her Mileage Club reaching a huge Milestone.

How a Visual Reminder of Their Accomplishments Keeps Her Students Motivated

An Interview with a Second Grade Teacher and Run Club Leader

Motivating Students to Do Their Very Best Every Day - Mileage Club

An Interview with PE Instructors from Shady Hill Elementary in Florida 

Mileage Club: Motivation and Habit Formation

I met a young middle school teacher a few months ago who wants to be successful. She has visions of her students coming back to visit her after they graduate high school and thanking her for the impact she made on their lives. 

Unfortunately, her day-to-day teaching experience makes her feel ineffective and frustrated. More and more of her students are disinterested, and sometimes even disobedient. To be a great instructor you need students who listen and desire to learn.

The solution to this problem is not new but requires planning, purpose, and some discipline. Successful students cultivate some or all of the habits that almost all successful people have: They exercise, read, show up (attendance), and eat healthily. The more habits students cultivate from this list, the more successful they will be.

A proven way to help create such “successful habits” is to create goals and then reward students when they attain the desired behavior. Teachers across the country find this works very well, and research bears this out.

That’s why we created the #1 selling award for run clubs, Toe Tokens® – colorful, plastic feet that kids love to collect. Kids run miles and love it J, so they can get a Toe Token.

Due to the success of Mileage Club, and because of requests from teachers, we quickly followed up with awards for reading, attendance, and nutrition – which is also helping kids reach their goals.

 

Here is How it Works:

1. Develop a plan to create routine activities around the desired goals for your classroom.
2. Layout the prescribed activities based on your goals and circumstances.
3. Following the idea of cue-habit-rewards made popular recently by Charles Duhigg (2012) and  now James Clear (2018), you then create:
1. A cue that tells the student when it is time to begin the habit/activity.
2. Clear instructions on what the activity consists of, without uncertainty.
3. An incentive plan to reward students at fixed intervals.
4. Design a system to measure progress.
5. Celebrate the goals met by distributing the awards earned.

Let’s Look at How This Works With Mileage Club (Run Club):

 

1.  Goal - my students will exercise more to increase their learning readiness and improve their health and mood.

 

• Create a program that allows every student to participate. 
• Allow each student to feel accomplished.

 

2.  Prescribed Activity – Start a running/walking club (Mileage Club).

• Create a course/track for the Mileage Club. (Our example will be a ¼ mile course around the playground.)
• Students run two times a week during recess (with an optional third day on Friday).
• Provide 20 minutes for each run.

3.  Cue - the recess bell.

• On Tuesday and Thursday, the students move around the track at whatever pace they can.
• Music can be played during this time to create a fun atmosphere.
• Incentive plan- every 5 miles (20 laps), a student earns a Toe Token.

 4.  Measuring – laps and total mileage will be tracked with the EZ Scan tracking software. 

5.  Celebration – awards day every Friday.

• On Friday, at lunch, all students who earned awards receive their Toe Tokens.
• A lanyard is also provided with the first Toe Token so a student can display their awards.
• Students who desire to run more may do so on Friday.

This goal/reward method has worked for decades across the country for run clubs, as well as reading plans, and behavior programs. Such programs are easy to create and implement. And, they help students create those necessary “successful habits.”

Stop being frustrated with your current efforts and start making a massive difference in your students' lives - just like you dreamed about in college - with Mileage Club, EZ Scan, and Toe Tokens! Fitness Finders has decades of experience to help you begin today.

References:

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg from 2012

Atomic Habits by James Clear from 2018