LIFESTYLE
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“Research shows that kids need brain breaks, and exercise helps with learning and stamina throughout the day. That’s one of the benefits of Marathon Kids.”
WOW time to make up for that.” WOW stands for Working Out for Wellness, an initiative that helps Austin students meet district requirements for daily physical activity outside of P.E. class. At Baranoff, 10 minutes of WOW time per day is dedicated specifically to Marathon Kids. Some students can run a full mile or more during that window. “One of the main reasons we implemented Marathon Kids schoolwide was to tie it into our WOW program,” Page says. “It ties into cardiovascular fitness, which
DECEMBER
is part of coordinated school health, and it’s a structured activity for the students so they can actually see progress from the start of the year. How many laps can I do today versus how many can I do at the end of the year?” Page also points out that Marathon Kids gives children opportunities to set goals. “[With Marathon Kids], when you make an accomplishment, you get a reward, so you’re motivated to keep going. It’s also something that we as teachers can model for kids, since we’re also active,” Page says. “We keep our own logs out in the hall by the doors, so kids can see what mile we’re on. They can see what we’re doing and see that it’s important for them to stay active and healthy as part of that 60 minutes a day of getting out and moving your body.”
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I have two children in elementary school in Austin ISD, yet I wasn’t aware my daughter was participating in Marathon Kids until she brought home a tee-shirt in first grade, her reward for reaching her first milestone — logging a cumulative marathon, or 26.2 miles. My daughter is an active kid. She also has Down syndrome, which means her joints are a bit loose; endurance and speed aren’t yet strong points for her. The Marathon Kids’ focus on cumulative mileage, logged at one’s own pace over time, is perfect for her. In fact, it’s perfect for children of all fitness levels and abilities. As Coach Page points out, anyone can participate in Marathon Kids, including children with limited mobility. “It doesn’t matter your age. You don’t need equipment — you just need to find a space to move your body,” she says.
2019