Greystone students to run in Kids Mercedes Marathon
Leta Holt tells her students there’s nothing quite like completing the Kids Mercedes Marathon.
“We always say it’s an experience [students] need to do before sixth grade,” said Holt, a physical education teacher at Greystone Elementary. “It’s such an incredible feeling to go downtown and finish that last mile escorted by policemen with everyone cheering you on.”
This year, led by PE teachers Holt and Rand Payton, Greystone Elementary boasts its largest number of students participating in the kids’ portion of the Mercedes Marathon. On Feb. 15, 162 Greystone students will complete the 1-mile Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Kids Mercedes Marathon.
The distance represents the final mile of what is essentially a five-month marathon for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. After signing up for the marathon at the beginning of the school year, those who agree to participate run 25.2 miles between September and January, making the final mile all that’s needed for a marathon’s 26.2-mile distance.
Holt said Greystone began the program in 2003, her second year at the school. About 70 students signed up the first year, but by 2004 the number climbed to more than 100. She said the goal every year since has been to encourage more than 150 students to participate, but she’d take the entire school to the Mercedes Marathon if she could.
“I’d love it if everyone in the school would participate at least once,” she said. “It builds a sense of school spirit because we talk about it all year long.”
She said the school has special days throughout the year during which students participating in the race are recognized, and their names are listed on the gymnasium wall.
For Greystone Elementary, the program is part of the school’s attempt to improve students’ health, and those efforts earned it recognition last year from The Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
Students are not only required to participate in physical activity for 30 minutes a day, but they’re also encouraged to participate in many extracurricular physical activities like the Jaguar Running Club, for which more than 50 students currently meet Wednesday mornings for a run.
“If you ask them why they do it, they’ll say it’s fun and they love to run.” Holt said.
Children who finish the race downtown receive a Finisher’s Medal, a miniature version of the Mercedes Marathon finisher’s medal. Holt said she’s collected several through the years by joining students on the course to provide support as they approach the line.
“We really are a running school, and I think all the running we do builds confidence,” she said. “Even the little ones aren’t afraid to get out here.”
The Mercedes-Benz Marathon Weekend of events has helped raise more than $4 million for local charities throughout its 12-year history. This year’s schedule includes:
Feb. 14, noon-7 p.m. St. Vincent’s Health Systems Health and Fitness Expo, Boutwell Auditorium.
Feb. 15, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. St. Vincent’s Health Systems Health and Fitness Expo.
Feb. 15, 8 a.m. Regions Superhero 5K, Linn Park
Feb. 15, 10 a.m. The Bell Center EIP Children’s Run, Linn Park
Feb. 15, 11 a.m. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Kids Mercedes Marathon, Linn Park
Feb. 16, 7 a.m. The Mercedes Marathon, Linn Park