Class Runs Together for Health
WSET-13
You've heard of standards of learning, but how about standards of health? Governor Kaine says he supports pending legislation that would have the state Department of Education establish health criteria for Virginia students.
So far, Spencer's class has already run a combined 800 miles this year. Spencer, who has lost more than 80 pounds, says it's a great way to get kids motivated.
Kevin Spencer, Raleigh Court Elementary - "We tell them that anybody can set a goal, anybody can start a marathon, can start a 5k, start a 10k, but I'm really looking for finishers."
His students have taken these lessons to heart. Two of his kids have already run over a hundred miles so far this school year.
Keith Spencer, 5th grader - "I like to set goals and believe in myself, I don't run very fast but I do run pretty fast when I believe in myself and I think everybody should run a mile a day to get their heart pumped and ready to go."
Seema Taylor, 5th grader - "At first, no, I thought it was impossible, I won't be able to do it, but I kept working and working and I've got to my goal, I've reached my goal so I'm planning for the year to reach 200 miles."
Kaine says although healthy habits start at home, schools have a real responsibility with providing healthy options in vending machines and promoting physical activity.
Kaine urges students to get with it, shape up
The governor came to Roanoke to tout a bill that would require state officials to team up to battle childhood obesity.
By David Harrison
roanoke.com
Gov. Tim Kaine traveled to Roanoke on Wednesday to talk to a fifth-grade classroom at Raleigh Court Elementary about exercise.
He told them about a 117-mile bike ride he took last year from Richmond to Washington, D.C. He told them about a teacher he had once who challenged students to run 100 miles in a year. Kaine took him up on the challenge in seventh grade and has been running ever since.
Kaine came to Roanoke to tout a bill that came out of the just-completed General Assembly session that would require the state's school superintendent and the state's health commissioner to team up to battle childhood obesity.
He chose Kevin Spencer's Raleigh Court classroom because he was impressed with a running program Spencer has started at the school.
Every Thursday morning, about 40 students join Spencer for a run before class. So far this year, the running club has covered a total of 600 miles. Spencer also requires that his fifth-grade students run a quarter-mile before going to recess.
"Why do you do it?" Kaine asked the students, prompting a torrent of answers.
"It's fun."
"Sometimes I run to school from my house."
"You get to run with your friends and have a great time, and you feel great after you run."
Later, as the students took laps around a grassy field to show off their running program, Kaine stood in the warm sunshine in the middle of the field and expounded some more for a pack of reporters on his exercise routine, which has him on treadmills five or six days a week.
The governor's travels around the state have introduced him to gyms across Virginia for early-morning workouts, including the Family Center YMCA on Orange Avenue, he said.
In the five years after he first started running for lieutenant governor and through the 2005 gubernatorial race, "I was living on coffee and Dr Peppers and fast food and adrenaline," he said.
Then, he shaped up.
"All I have is my judgment," he added. "If you're not eating and exercising and sleeping well, it's not going to be at its peak."
With child obesity affecting almost 19 percent of American 6- to 11-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's almost become a requirement for lawmakers and politicians to adopt a healthy lifestyle and tout its benefits to their audiences.
With Kaine at the school Wednesday were Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, and Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Henry County, the new House minority party leader who last year shed 30 pounds over four months.
"I got my heart rate down and my cholesterol down and I feel really good," Armstrong told the fifth-graders.
Spencer said he first started running about five years ago, after his wife had an operation. He would get up early in the morning, before his two sons woke up, and take walks around the neighborhood.
The walks turned to runs.
In 2004, Spencer started running with his students, some of whom have now completed short races.
Now Spencer still gets up at 4:30 or 5 every morning for long runs before the school day starts. He gets in a little more running on Thursdays with his morning running group at the school.
The group has become quite popular.
"One time it was like 11 degrees, and I still had 20 kids show up to run," he said.
School's fitness program recognized by the Governor
wdbj7.com
A Roanoke school's running club is getting the attention of the Governor. Tim Kaine was so impressed with the progress he stopped by to show his support.
The governor is preparing to sign a new bill dealing with the role of schools in fighting a significant problem in Virginia.
Twenty four percent of the state's children are overweight.
Fifth graders at Raleigh Court Elementary School are running at least two have run more than 100 miles this school year.
Many of their classmates are trying to keep the pace.
The Governor wants to highlight them as a model for what other schools should be doing.
Teacher Kevin Spencer is setting the standard at Raleigh Court.
See Also:
Kids Run