The music fit the mood. Coaches and a crew of 5th and 6th grade boys were running laps for 30 minutes in the Mettawee gymnasium. “The music pumps me up and keeps me going,” said one eager runner as the classic sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival filled the room — “Rollin’ … rollin’ … rollin’ down the river.”
The workout is just one part of a national program called Let Me Run. It combines exercise along with lessons designed to help boys learn teamwork, build relationship skills, create friendships, grow emotionally, amplify their self-esteem, empower themselves and others, and live an active lifestyle.
Let Me Run is in its first year of operation at the Mettawee Community School (MCS) under the direction of teachers Mandy Thomas, Sarah Dunbar, and Ross Harmon. The group meets for an hour of practice and conversation on Mondays and Thursdays for seven weeks. “We finish with a group run in the Rail Trail to the Footbridge 5K in Granville at the end of May,” said Thomas.
The chance to run is the main draw. One boy already developed an interest in running by competing in 5Ks with his father. Another 5th grader just likes to run and up until now was limited to laps around his house. “Now I can run with my friends,” he said. A third simply saw Let Me Run as an alternative to baseball. “I played catcher,” he explained, ruefully. “I got tired of getting hit by the ball.”
Running brings the group together but the opportunity comes with the time spent with each other. At each session the boys start with a structured conversation about words to live by as they stretch to prepare for their workout.
At one recent practice they contemplated the words of Albert Einstein, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather to become a man of value.” To one boy this meant that success might mean money and a good job, but value was being a good person who does the right thing.
At the same session the group showed teamwork by encouraging each other to keep moving through the 30 minute run, their longest to date. “I counted laps and did the math,” said one runner. “We just ran 76 times around the gym. With 30 laps to a mile that’s over 2.5 miles!”
When the run is over the boys unwind with more stretching, “My hips hurt!” complained one. Pain aside, this day's wrap-up discussion was about stereotyping. “It’s wrong to think that only girls are nurses,” said one runner. “Boys can take care of others, too.”
“The tips on running are helpful and the exercise is good for everyone,” said Harmon. “But there’s something about the mutual support and companionship that brings out the best in their conversations and delivers a real benefit.”
At the end of the practice each boy pulls out a journal and writes down something positive about what they have done. On this day they were all quite pleased to meet the goal of a 30 minute run. “That was great,” said one. “Our best day yet.”
(Photo above: Mettawee students showcase their "Let Me Run" tee-shirts.)
Coach Thomas leads the boys in a discussion about words to live by before the start of their run.
The Mettawee runners jog in place to warm up for their long distance run.
The boys ran 76 laps around the gym covering 2.5 miles in their 30 minute timed run.
The runners are encouraged to hydrate after the 30 minute workout.
Four members of the Mettawee Let Me Run program flex after completing a workout.
Coaches Mandy Thomas and Ross Harmon join with the runners for a post practice cheer.