Feathers In The Wind

A few years ago several teachers at Crystal Lake Elementary School got together and created a "Running Club." The idea was to run after school with students and teach them how to pace themselves for longer distances while also promoting health and fitness. What the teachers did not expect was over a 100 students in grades 3-5 showing up to practice week after week. The passion and the excitement caught and soon whole families were running together, students were practicing at recess, and that year over 40 students completed their first 5k. But the teachers and the students didn't stop. The next year they invited High School Track and Cross Country athletes to their practices. They ran with them and got advice on how to train harder and longer. They also encouraged other schools to give it a try and passionate teachers in 3 other elementary schools began their own Running Clubs. However, there was one thing that the students wanted to accomplish more than anything else. They wanted to organize their own 5k. So at the end of the year a group of student athletes invited race directors, timing professionals, police, and neighborhood members to their classroom. With a little help from their teacher, they planned, created, designed and eventually produced the "Feather in the Wind 5k."