How Atlanta Track Club Maximizes Their Community Reach

Run clubs are advantageous for everyone involved—parents, teachers, kids, etc. There are so many benefits:

• Goal setting

• Habit formation

• Increased physical activity

• Fun

And these are just a few of them! Starting a run club because of these benefits is a no-brainer, but if you find yourself without the right tools, it can get a bit tricky – especially if you’re organizing run clubs for a whole community of people.

One way to organize your run club that makes all this much simpler is to use technology to manage, report, and track the data from your club. Our EZ Scan® app is the best tool that makes this easier at any given site or even across a whole community. EZ Scan helps you step back and see the bigger picture.

The EZ Scan^® “Community” feature provides a place for community leaders to track progress across any number of run club sites (be that schools, Y’s, clubs, or community events). Tracking progress helps ensure that all those parents, teachers, and kids involved are successful with their goals.

One example of a successful EZ Scan community using this feature is the Atlanta Track Club. Originally, Atlanta Track Club started with just 7 locations in the greater Atlanta area, but in a few short years, that number has worked up to 56! Keeping track of mileage for that many locations could be difficult, but with the EZ Scan app, tracking the entire Atlanta Track Club’s community miles is as simple as clicking a button. During the 2021-2022 school year, Atlanta Track Club recorded over 20,000 miles, averaging a whopping 20 miles per child across each of their locations.

As mentioned before, EZ Scan also provides progress reports for individual schools or locations. One such example is Kilometer Kids, the free running program for K-8 kids. Though Kilometer Kids is a part of the Atlanta Track Club community, each Kilometer Kids location individually tracks participants’ laps and helps them set their own goals. They were able to see if each child in their program ran 26.2 miles—the length of a marathon—over their 10-week season.

Top 10 Benefits of School Run Clubs

If you’re looking for a way to keep your kids engaged at school, participate in physical activity, and have fun while doing so, look no further than run clubs. They’re proven to work—just ask the 20,000+ schools around the world who offer run clubs. Kids aren’t the only ones who can benefit from a run club, either; it extends beyond to the teachers, volunteers, parents, and the community too! Though there are many, here are the top ten benefits/reasons to implement a school run club today.  

 

1.  Avoid Playground Hassles

Any recess monitor can attest that a variety of issues can stem from unstructured time spent on playgrounds. Children need close supervision during recess to avoid accidents and behavioral problems. After all, kids are just learning how to share, play nice, and get along with others. However, run clubs directly decrease playground troubles by releasing children’s energy and boosting moods. Though some incidents can’t be completely removed (kids will be kids!), run clubs help ensure recess stays a beneficial activity for children—and less of a hassle for teachers. 

2.  Reduce Childhood Obesity

Obesity can cause several health risks for children, both as children and later in life. Back in 2017–2018, a staggering total of 14.4 million children in the US were obese. To break it down even further, 13.4% of those children were 2-5 year-olds, while 20.3% were 6-11 year-olds. Run clubs help target and prevent obesity for elementary school children by encouraging regular exercise whenever possible—before class, after class, or during school through brain breaks, recess, and Physical Education.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic only worsened childhood obesity concerns. With fewer opportunities for regular exercise during this time, all BMI categories except underweight experienced significant weight rate increases. For severely obese children, they gained an average of 7.3 pounds over a 6-month period, compared to a weight gain of 2.7 pounds for healthy children. To reverse this negative trend, teachers are increasingly utilizing run clubs because of all the benefits. In fact, Fitness Finder’s Mileage Club® schools ran more than 7 million miles in the 2019–2020 school year despite the start of the pandemic. 

3.  Goal Setting

Run clubs allow children to track their achievements and earn rewards, which encourages them to strive for more. Mileage Club® uses an app called EZ Scan®; it tracks kids’ laps and collects data to keep them updated on how they’re doing. Most importantly, EZ Scan® allows teachers to set goals that are achievable for all students, whether they consider themselves to be active or not. This makes it easy for kids to recognize that they can do this and anything else they set their minds to, which is a great attribute to carry with them as they grow older. 

4.  Excitement/Engagement

When something is engaging and fun, kids will be more willing to participate—that’s what run clubs are all about! We want kids to enjoy exercise and have fun in this collaborative atmosphere, which is why school run clubs offer awards and incentives for achieving their goals.

"A study based in Canada from the 1990s found that adding rewards to their run club increased participation from children by 50%."

Recent studies have replicated that result.  For Mileage Club, we incentivize kids to participate by rewarding Toe Tokens—charms that come in a variety of colors and styles that kids love to display because of their hard work. Teachers that we’ve worked with agree that rewards keep kids motivated. They say that the kids are excited to run and can’t wait to do so!

5.  Reduce Sitting Time

Ever heard that sitting is the new smoking? While the phrase was originally coined to call out the sedentary lifestyle of adults through their desk jobs, driving, and TV watching, it’s applicable to children now as well. Between school and home, children are spending 60% of their day seated! Although seemingly harmless, sitting for extended periods of time can be quite harmful. For young girls who sit uninterrupted for just three hours, it can cause a major reduction in their vascular function (the body’s ability to carry blood through the veins and arteries). Because of these consequences, it’s important to get kids up and moving. 

6.  Brain Breaks

Run clubs provide children with the brain breaks necessary to divert their energy to a fun, stress-free activity, allowing them to reenter the classroom with their full attention. With shorter attention spans, kids need these short breaks to recoup back to the task at hand. In 2016, psychologist Karrie Godwin measured students’ attentiveness over the course of a class period. The results? Kids spent a quarter of the time distracted, meaning that shorter, bite-sized lessons with brain breaks in-between better help kids focus on their lessons and their teacher. Plus, the study promoted other benefits that brain breaks provide, such as decreased stress, an increase in productivity and brain function, and more opportunities for kids to socialize with each other. Run clubs achieve all three of these benefits, giving kids a healthy break with other students and placing them back into the classroom refreshed and ready to learn!  

7.  Learning Readiness

It’s undeniable that physical activity in a child’s day increases their ability to learn, and especially improves attention and memory. For example, one such study showed that physical fitness improved academic performance, and expressly called for schools to dedicate time in the day for gym and recess rather than scrapping those for more class time. As noted in the previous paragraph, physical activity only improves kids’ brain function by giving them an enjoyable outlet. Kids often bounce off the walls, so allowing them that time to burn off some extra energy means they can come back into the classroom with a better mindset. 

8. Habit Formation

Run clubs help children form healthy habits. In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear lays out a four-step pattern to create habits that improve your health: 

• Cue—the trigger for a behavior
• Craving—the motivation behind wanting to do the habit
• Response—the performed habit
• Reward—the end goal

Run clubs follow a similar framework by making regular physical activity part of a child’s routine and providing them with a tangible reward, like Toe Tokens®, at the end. With this in place, children are already well on their way to creating healthy habits that are easy to continue later in life! We highly recommend reading chapter three of Clear’s book, which contains more information on habit formation, to apply these principles to your own plans.

 

9. Goal-Oriented Social Activity 

Sharon Hoover, a co-director of the University of Maryland-based National Center for School Mental Health, made it clear that schools “need to invest now in the mental health and well-being of our kids in a broad and comprehensive way—not just for children with learning disabilities and diagnosed mental health conditions, but for all students.” Run clubs are a great way to provide beneficial tasks to your more social students. They can lean into their communication and empathy strengths while they walk and talk with their peers. They can still achieve their goals and encourage the other kids to do the same. Run clubs are also easily adjusted to practice social-distancing guidelines; kids can still gain the benefits while maintaining safety for themselves and others!

10. Be Everyone’s Favorite Teacher

Obviously! Kids love it.  You’ll be changing their lives—and the lives of their parents and the community—for the better. With this fun group dynamic, you’ll be everyone’s favorite teacher. 

The benefits of a run club will greatly impact students, teachers, and the community. Whether you’re starting from scratch or improving an active program, we have everything you need. to help your students be active and have fun. Get started by downloading our FREE Run Club Guide. In no time, your students will be more active, and everyone involved will have a blast. 

Download Your Free Guide

❄️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

 

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

An Interview with PE Instructors from Shady Hill Elementary in Florida 

Kilometre Club Spotlight

Mileage Club® is the #1 Run Club for kids in North America. But have you ever wondered how our Canadian neighbors, who use the metric system, run a Mileage Club? We talked to Claudine Lukawesky in Toronto, Ontario who was happy to share information about her school’s Kilometre Club (KC)!

"Kilometre Club was started at our school, Northlea EMS, approximately 10 years ago! It started as a pre-practice to help students prepare for Track & Field tryouts, but quickly became a Club for any child. Our school has approximately 800 students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8. It is French Immersion, English, and Developmentally Delayed tracked."

"KC is run solely with parent and student volunteers, although we have staff members present for liability reasons. We only purchase our goods through Fitness Finders® due to safety reasons – we like that you make your products with no lead in the chains or plastic charms, and that you now offer the safe LaceLink™ Lanyards."

"We always start KC on a Wednesday so we can make reminder announcements on Monday and Tuesday. (Many people would forget if we started on a Monday. 😊) KC “runs” for 13 mornings from 8-8:30, always ending on a Friday."

"Students are encouraged to run, walk, hop – we’ve even had kids in wheelchairs being pushed – around our 200 metre track. Every time they go around the track, they receive a popsicle stick. When I ring my cowbell at 8:30, students finish the lap they’re on and head to the “Attendance Table” where we record their number of sticks under their classroom teacher’s name. We do this for two reasons: to track the number of kilometres and to track KC attendance. At the end of the 13 days, the class with the most attendance wins a pizza lunch!"

"After the Attendance Table, students head over to the “Charm Table,” and pick out one charm for their bracelet. It doesn’t matter how many laps they’ve completed, all the children receive one charm per day of participation. This is done because we want ALL kids to participate and feel equal. Not everyone is an elite athlete, but at Kilometre Club you are treated like an athlete! We are just so proud of the effort from all the kids and want to focus on that instead of making it all about competition. Although, we do still encourage competition within yourself – and to get your class to participate to win the pizza lunch!"

"I have had so many parents thank me because of how our program has made their child feel included. Knowing that one charm is given out per day of participation, and not by number of laps, makes children feel so special that they are happy to come out for exercise. We have had kids with anxiety issues, and doing Kilometre Club before school helps them feel more relaxed. Children with ADD/ADHD burn off some extra energy so they can focus better in class."

"I'm going into my 10th year of Kilometre Club, and each year it is an honour to have kids in the neighbourhood see me and come thank me for doing this program that they look forward to every year! Benefits of KC are that children are encouraging one another to participate; they are completing laps with friends; and, the older grades get to do a lot of the organizing and help out with the younger grades. Thanks to Fitness Finders for making safe products that encourage children to be active and do something!!"

Customer Profile - Betty Kern: Physical Education Teacher

Fitness Finders® Customer Profile: 

- Betty Kern, MS, CSCS

Ohio Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, 2017

"I teach Physical Education to 4th - 6th graders at 

Schrop Intermediate School in the Springfield Local School District 
just south of Akron, Ohio." 

What's Been a Highlight of Your Teaching Career?

"A highlight of my teaching career came just recently after being awarded the Ohio Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.  My school had a surprise assembly for me.  They decorated the gym with running shoes that the students had colored and written messages on.  In addition, our custodian made me a larger than life running woman for the gym.  Every student in the school also wrote me a letter...all 570 of them!  These letters are so touching and demonstrated to me that the students learn and absorb so much more than I'd ever imagined.  At the assembly, 28 students read aloud their letters to me in front of the whole school.  It was an amazing, moving moment and one that I will never forget!"

What's Your Favorite Teaching Tip?

"My favorite teaching tip is to remember that what you are teaching your students today could be brand new to them!  It might be the first time they have ever experienced that topic, skill, activity, etc.  Remember how hard it is to learn something new.  Teach it to them as if they have never seen it before.  Be patient and be willing to slow down and make sure everyone understands. The extra time will pay huge dividends!"

How Do You Use Fitness Finders® Products?

"Fitness Finders® Awards are used in our Running Clubs throughout the year.  Students earn a Sneaker for every 50 points they earn and every 5 miles they run during a running club season.  Each week students look forward to receiving their awards! Many students ask to run extra laps to earn extra points so ultimately they can earn extra Sneaker Awards!

The 1st, 2nd, & 3rd charms are also used for grade awards at the club races. 

Fitness Finders® Awards are also used at our "all school" races held during the school day.  If a student improves his/her mile time, then an award is given.  For example, Turkey Awards are used for the Turkey Trot, Snowflake Awards for the Winter Fun Run, etc.  One child last year said that was the first award he'd ever earned in school! He was so excited!  

Fitness Finders® Walker Awards are used in Morning Walking Club when students reach various mile levels.  

Lastly, we use the EZ Scan® App for our walking club and for our upcoming Mile Tracker Challenge."

Fitness Finders® appreciates Betty Kern's support and commitment to excellence.

Running Beyond Their Challenges

Spencer and Eli Pardee are adopted brothers from Guatemala, currently living in a small Michigan town.  Spencer, now 13, and Eli, 11, were each adopted at 8 months of age. Both boys have overcome substantial physical challenges. Their mother, Dr. Terri Pardee, credits Mileage Club®, combined with a quality physical education program, with a good deal of their success.

Dr. Pardee (Terri), a Professor of Psychology at Spring Arbor University, is particularly interested in Childhood Development including high functioning autism, effects of trauma on children, and physiological psychology. Terri explains that the brain stem of a child develops from the bottom up. When progressive physical activity is not available to children, their brain stem doesn’t develop in typical fashion, often resulting in a delay of gross motor skills. Stunted brain stem development also affects the brain’s cognitive and emotional development. Adopted children often experience physical and psychological delays due to this lack of brain stem development. Constantly swaddling babies, which is a common practice in third world countries because of environmental health concerns, can also limit opportunities to strengthen core muscles.  

Spencer and Eli both experienced gross motor skill delays. Terri recognized the importance of early intervention and enrolled the boys in the Jackson County ISD Lyle A. Torrant Center’s Early Childhood Program where they received Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Physical Therapy. These provided the boys with a great assessment of their abilities and challenges, as well as a foundation for improvement.

Spencer struggled with weak core muscles. As a first grader, he was unable to lie on his back and roll to his stomach. He also dealt with twisted tibias, which resulted in him being extremely pigeon toed. Spencer wore leg braces as a young child and often tripped when he walked.

When Spencer entered 1^st grade, he met Physical Education teacher, Debbie Drake. Debbie taught Physical Education at Jackson Christian Elementary School for 17 years ending in 2016. She has also worked at Fitness Finders, Inc. since 1977, and helped develop and write the Mileage Club® program alongside company founders, Dr. Charles and Beth Kuntzleman.

Terri remembers telling Debbie, “My son has pretty significant gross motor delays. Spencer may not be able to run. He’s not being lazy, he just not physically able to.”

Unfazed, Debbie responded, “We can work with him.”

Terri noticed Spencer began growing stronger. Motor control was a challenge for him, but suddenly he was improving. Five years later, Spencer was running comfortably as a 5^th grader due in part to Mileage Club®. He earned awards in his Physical Education class for push-ups (which require strong core muscles), and he ultimately reached the top 10 in his 5^th grade class for physical fitness testing.

The Pardees offered Spencer a variety of opportunities to be active. They enrolled him as a young child in baseball and soccer, but he struggled with organized sports. Spencer has a reserved personality, and the sensory overload that accompanied many such activities made it difficult for him to master the physical skills necessary.

However, Mileage Club® was a perfect fit for Spencer. Mileage Club® gave Spencer a framework in which to practice running, while encouraging him to improve his performance and meet goals – all while having fun!

“The kids had a ball with Mileage Club®.” Terri told us in our interview.

Now a middle schooler, Spencer has joined his school’s Cross Country team and is thoroughly enjoying the experience. At his first cross country meet, Terri felt nervous and asked Spencer if he was sure he could run that far. Spencer breezily replied, “Oh, yeah. We ran that far at lunch every day for Mileage Club®.”

Spencer’s younger brother Eli experienced similar physical challenges. In addition, Eli is currently prescribed some medications that can affect fitness levels and may cause weight gain. Terri is delighted that Eli has expressed the same enjoyment of running and Mileage Club® as his brother. Eli has completed two 5K races, and is proud of his accomplishments in each.

Terri expresses gratitude for her sons’ early exposure to Mileage Club®, and the interest and joy in running that it helped cultivate in them. As the boys enter adolescence, running seems to help them manage their emotions.

“Running has made the boys physically healthier, provided them an outlet for stress, and has taught them fitness skills that they will be able to use throughout their entire lives.” – Terri Pardee