As the group of 12 year olds walked over to the starting area Thursday morning one girl walked past me and probably summed up the feelings of most others: “I don’t want to do this,” she said.
It wasn’t that the kids attending the Joplin Family YMCA summer day camp didn’t want to start the one-mile-run; rather, it was that they weren’t sure they could make it through.
Sierra Witzman was one of the teenagers who wasn’t sure she would be able to finish even though, the day before, she completed her first attempt at running a mile.
Liz Scheurich, the YMCA’s community wellness director, said that when Sierra finished her trial run Wednesday she was so proud that she cried tears of joy when she finished.
Sierra didn’t look like she was in the mood to cry tears of joy Thursday morning. She looked nervous. I recognize that look. It was the same look I used to get on my face when I was a kid and was about to try something I wasn’t sure I would be able to do.
The run was the culmination of a 10-week program that the kids have been taking part in this summer. Called “Kids Running the Nation,” it helps them not only run a mile but also helps them learn to enjoy the experience.
It was funded by a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health and during the course the 350 camp participants, who ranged in age from kindergarten to sixth grade, learned about setting realistic goals, learned running techniques such as pacing, and stretching. They also learned about the physiology of running and were taught a number of tips and safety rules.
The purpose of “Kids Run the Nation” is not to churn about a new generation of Olympic long-distance runners, but to churn out a new generation of kids with a healthy self esteem. They want to produce a new generation of kids who know how to set and to accomplish goals.
The goal for the older YMCA day camp participants was to finish the mile run. The goal for some of the younger camp kids was to finish a run of six-tenths of a mile. It didn’t matter how fast they ran, or if they came in first or last. Heck, it didn’t even matter if they walked more than they ran, but what mattered was that they set a goal and accomplished it.
When I arrived at the park in Carl Junction Thursday morning the fourth and fifth grade kids were in the middle of their race. When the first young girl crossed the finish line she was mobbed by another girl.
“You beat the boys. You are amazing,” her friend said.
The young runner beamed for a second and then both girls turned their attention to the other kids finishing their run.
“Way to go! You did it,” the girls yelled as each runner crossed the finish line.
A few minutes later, it was the older kids’ turn. As the run began I watched Sierra. She took off at a medium, yet steady pace. She kept moving and a few minutes later I watched her cross the finish line.
She wasn’t crying.
She was smiling.
I think that’s something.
Local News
Mike Pound: Children reach goals one step at a time
- Local News
-
-
Joplin sends team to help Moore
A team of public safety workers from Joplin were deployed Monday night to assist in Moore, Okla.
-
Catholic Charities puts out call for donations to fill two trucks for Oklahoma tornado survivors
Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri is requesting donations to fill two box trucks with needed supplies for the tornado-devastated region of Moore, Okla.
-
Crowder College president to head to MSSU
Alan Marble, who announced Monday that he would retire as president of Crowder College in June, has been hired as special assistant to the president at Missouri Southern State University, MSSU officials announced Tuesday.
-
Two plead guilty to post-tornado wire theft
Two defendants pleaded guilty Monday to stealing copper wire from utility poles in the wake of the May 22, 2011, tornado that struck Joplin. Timothy M. Silveria, 45, of Joplin, and Nycoa K. Kracht, 32, of Laurel, Ind., entered open pleas of guilty in Jasper County Circuit Court to felony counts of theft from a public utility.
-
Vandals cause $37,000 in damage at Joplin business
A Joplin business owner was the victim of a weekend vandalism spree that resulted in an estimated $37,000 in damages and theft, in addition to putting the company out of service for at least two days.
-
Storms cause damage throughout the Four States
Four-State Area residents hunkered down twice Monday to ride out tornadoes and powerful spring storms, then went to work cleaning up. The worst damage from Monday night’s storm was being reported in Ottawa County, Okla., near Wyandotte. That followed a report of an EF-1 tornado early Monday morning near Carthage.
-
Alan Marble, Crowder College president, to retire
After 27 years with Crowder College, President Alan Marble has announced his plans to retire on June 30, the formal end of the academic year. “It’s just the right time,” Marble, 58, said in a telephone interview Monday morning. “I’ve enjoyed, I think, every minute of these 27 years, but it’s time to move on to the next challenge.”
-
Mike Pound: My wife hid the clutter so well, I may be missing
OK, now I’m worried. Late Sunday afternoon, my wife announced that she was going to clean up our kitchen and our family room. When she made that announcement, our 15-year-old daughter, Emma, and I laughed because, at the time, our kitchen and family room were sort of cluttered.
-
EF1 tornado hit Carthage early Monday morning
Clean-up was underway in Carthage after winds estimated at 90 to 100 miles an hour damaged buildings and toppled trees and power lines in the Carthage area just after midnight early Monday.
-
Carthage School Board meeting is postponed
The Carthage School Board meeting set for today has been postponed for due to threats of severe weather.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Joplin sends team to help Moore
