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  The Run/Walk Across America came out of a discussion between Mr. Paul Staso and
his 5th grade daughter, Ashlin, one evening in June 2005. Ashlin, and her
brothers and sister, have all enjoyed P.E. class at Russell Elementary
where their mother is the P.E. teacher. The father/daughter talk that
early summer evening was about the
average fitness level of today's kids and
a brainstorming session began about ways that the students at Russell
Elementary School, Missoula, Montana, could be encouraged toward greater fitness. It was
agreed that running and/or walking is the most basic form of exercise to
increase fitness. Mr. Staso shared with his daughter about his training in
1985-1986 to attempt a new world record at the run across America,
sponsored by several large corporations. As the two talked, the
idea was raised to have the 4th and 5th grade students at Russell
Elementary aim to virtually run/walk across the United States during the school year. The
students would combine their individual mileage as a class to see if
either class, or both, could virtually cross the entire continent as a
team. After several family discussions it was decided that the Run/Walk Across
America would be a part of the 2005-2006 P.E. curriculum at Russell
Elementary. The principal of Russell Elementary commented that the
curriculum was "very impressive" and we ran with the project...
literally.
Our research showed
us that some other P.E.
programs in America have done similar virtual treks; however, we
created a unique motivating element into our endeavor - one that we
believe is a first for such a curriculum. It was decided that
if either the 4th grade class or the 5th grade class, or both (but not
combined), could virtually cross the continent by the last day of
school on June 9, 2006, then Paul Staso would actually attempt to run the entire
route across America that the students virtually crossed.
Paul's
92-day
run would begin June 23, 2006 and would be documented
through a web site where the students could follow his progress and
actually see the locations that they virtually traveled through. Rather than
run for the purpose of achieving a new world record for the distance as he
did 20 years earlier, Paul would run to promote physical fitness in
children of all ages.
A route for the Run/Walk Across America was
selected that includes 15 states, 3,200 miles, and passes through the
students' hometown of Missoula, Montana. In addition,
General Guidelines for the
Run/Walk Across America P.E. Curriculum were developed.
Also, rather than just focusing on
physical education and physical activity it was decided that the run/walk should also educate the
students about the U.S. and the various places that they
virtually run/walk through. Information was collected and this
educational web
site project developed.
When asked to write a statement on why she believes it's
important for kids to be physically fit, Ashlin wrote the following:
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"I think it is important for
kids to be physically fit because it makes kids feel good about
themselves.
It is also important for kids to be physically fit because it
helps them in sports.
In sports you can set goals and when you accomplish
your goal it makes you feel good.
Being physically fit
helps kids understand how unique they are in their own special way.
For
me, being physically fit helps me stay healthy while feeling good about
myself and my body." |
 Our
location, Missoula, Montana, is shown in the pictures to the right. We hope that you are encouraged by the 4th and
5th grade students at Russell Elementary and their Run/Walk Across America. We
also hope that you will be motivated to aim for greater physical fitness so that
you'll be healthier, feel good about yourself, excel in your favorite
sport or recreational activity, and achieve your personal goals!
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