 This
journal entry was written December 17. It's not often that
an elementary school's P.E. program receives a
letter of encouragement from the governor, but
that's exactly what happened this week! Montana's
Governor Brian Schweitzer sent the 4th and 5th
graders the following letter of encouragement:
.
 December 9, 2005
Dear Russell Elementary 4th & 5th Graders,
The value of fitness is an important lesson to
learn early on. That's why I was so excited when
I heard about your Run Across America. It's
great that you have set a goal and are reaching
for it with all you have. I have no doubts that
you will achieve it.
Good job and good luck!
Sincerely,
Brian Schweitzer
Governor
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What an
encouragement to these persevering students as
they continue running and walking through a cold
Montana winter! Thank you, Governor Schweitzer,
for taking the time to help motivate Russell
Elementary's students!
 Both classes have
about 150 miles left to go before completing the
state of Montana. Unless they put in an impressive
amount of running and walking in the next week,
they will not finish Montana before their
Christmas vacation - which begins on Friday,
December 23. And that's okay! They can cross into
North Dakota after the new year begins and they'll
only have 87 miles to travel through North Dakota
before entering South Dakota!
This week both
classes officially reached the 1/3rd point of the
trek. Each class has completed over 1,000 miles in
the last 100 days since this journey began. That
is an accomplishment to certainly be proud of.
The 4th grade is currently nearing
Forsyth,
Montana and the 5th grade is approaching the town
of
Vananda.
The town of
Miles City will be the next
location of
any significant size on their route, and they
should reach there in the coming week.
A big thank you to
Mr. Marjan Glavac, editor of the Busy Educator's
Newsletter, who included (once again) information
about our trek in his December edition. The
newsletter went out to 26,000 teachers this week.
Thank you Marjan!
Also, we want to
thank Mr. Wayne Baker in New Jersey for his
continual encouragement and for placing a note on
his Internet "Blog" about the students' run/walk
across America and for helping to rally
encouragement for the kids!
 This week
we also received a special note of
encouragement from
Patti Catalano Dillon. Those
of you who are familiar with world-class runners
of the 1970s and 1980s likely recognize Patti's
name. She is the 4-time Honolulu Marathon champion
('78-'81); she's the first American woman to break
2:30 for the marathon; she's in both the Road
Runner's Club of America Hall of Fame and the
Honolulu Marathon Hall of Fame; she's a National
Sports Ethics Fellow; she's the former American
record holder for 5 miles, 10K, 15K, 20K,
half-marathon, and marathon distances; and, she's
the former world record holder for 5 miles, 20K,
half marathon, and 30K races. Mrs. Dillon still
enjoys running, encouraging young runners, and is a motivational speaker. On
her web site she writes: "If you think you can,
you can! Go for it. Relentlessly, daringly,
mightily, steadily, persistently, joyfully. You
will reach the top of the mountain. The view is
awesome!" As a
home school educator, she has started the
Connecticut Home Schooled Harriers
and her life has truly reflected the meaning of
the word 'perseverance'. We were also fortunate to
receive a note of encouragement from her
9-year-old daughter, Raven. Thanks so much! You
can read both of their encouragement notes below.
 We also received a
note from SPC Aaron Lohr, U.S. Army Operations
Specialist currently stationed in Tikrit, Iraq. As
many of you know, in early October Aaron organized
a group of soldiers in Iraq to do the virtual trek
across America with the students. Then, on
November 22, we received a message from Aaron
informing us that he and his men would be
returning home before the holidays. We are so
happy that those men and women are returning to
their families, although we'll miss their
involvement in our Run/Walk Across America. Their
service to our country reflects a level of
perseverance and determination that no virtual or
actual trek can ever compare to.
You
can learn more about Aaron's participation here,
and you can read his note below.
 I know that there
are those of you who focus on the mileage and pace
chart when visiting this web site. However, please
be sure to see the "big" picture of what is being
accomplished through this virtual trek. Yes, the
students are running and walking each week to try
and attain their goal. But there is certainly more
happening than simply pounding out the miles.
Individual character is being developed;
individual fitness barriers are being knocked
down; believing in the unbelievable is occurring;
and, people of all ages and backgrounds are
noticing the efforts of these young school
children - from student peers, to a Governor, to a
soldier in Iraq, to a former world record holder,
to others who simply want to see these young
people succeed at something that initially seemed
so out of reach. We are proud of how the 4th and
5th grade students are doing, and we know that
this curriculum is having a positive impact on
their lives... and the lives of others. Thanks for
checking in on their progress and we wish you a
very merry Christmas!
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Some Encouraging
Notes We Received This Week: |
Not
only are you kids getting fit and showing the "I CAN DO IT"
attitude, you are learning about our wonderful country the USA!
Nothing like "active" learning. Keep it up! You ROCK!!
Patti Catalano Dillon
New London, Connecticut
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi
fellow 4th graders. Unlike most kids, I am Homeschooled. That means
I have school at home! I came to your website to tell you what a
great idea this was! Keep working at it! Keep staying ahead! And
don't let them run away from you, 5th graders! What I've learned
from running, was that when you find the JOY in it, no one can take
it away! You can't buy it, you can't lose it! You will always
remember that beautiful moment when you find the JOY of running, and
the work becomes fun!!!! May God keep you safe, The Rave....Short
for Raven!
Raven
New London, Connecticut
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Hey
kids, it's me. I know its been awhile but believe it or not we
soldiers out here are still running. Its been busy for us. We will
be home soon. Keep running and remember we are with you. Can't wait
to see you this spring when I make it back to Montana. I only hope I
am able to keep up with you speed demons. Never quit - you guys can
do it!
SPC Aaron Lohr, U.S. Army
Operations Specialist
Stationed in Tikrit, Iraq
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Awesome!
You'll see some beautiful sites on your virtual run. Don't forget to
enjoy the view. There's always something new and exciting to see.
And don't forget to have fun doing it.
Kim Mansukhani
Half Moon Bay, California
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Gymnastics
is a great sport, but it doesn't make Mr. Staso run. Keep working
towards the goal. Do any of you snowshoe or cross country ski? Does
that count towards the mileage? Try, if you can, to make up some of
the mileage you're still behind this week.
Wayne Baker
Westfield, New Jersey
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr.
Joe Wenskus, a 5th Grade
Teacher at
Dunlap Grade School,
located in Dunlap, Illinois, gave his students an opportunity to
send the Russell Elementary runners and walkers many words of
encouragement.
Thanks so much, Joe... and thank you students! Here are the kind
words that Joe's students sent to us:
Dear Runners,
Keep up the good work. You're doing well. Even if it is cold, try
your best. I know you can complete the goal. I'm in fifth grade too.
Run as hard as you can, and as fast as you can.
– Travis
Dear 5th grade:
You guys are doing a great job! I can't believe you are
running across the U.S.A! I wish I could do that. It sounds so fun.
You get to see amazing animals like ostrich, birds, wolves, and fox.
Even though you both are behind schedule, you can still meet your
goal of running across the U.S.A.
– Theo
You sound great!
What you do is an inspiration to us all! But especially
running club. Yes, we also have something like what you are doing. I
myself was in running club 2 years ago. Any way, I want you guys and
gals to know how great you are! Keep it up!
– Adam
Dear 5th grade: I
heard you guys are running across the United States. Well, keep it
up. I can't imagine what you guys get in the mile. I got 6 and a
half minutes in the mile I can't imagine what you guys get in the
mile. So you guys ran about 1,000 miles so far. Great job! Keep it
up. I know you guys can do it.
– Zachary
Dear 5th grade: I
am from Dunlap Grade School in IL. We have a running club here on
Tues and Thurs. I run 3.5 miles. Keep up the good work even if
its cold out. It is really cool what you are doing.
– Kinsey
Dear 5th grade
students: Keep up the good work. I believe you can run all the
way to the other side of the U.S. Just keep running and you will
make it! Good luck!
– Logan
5th Grade
Students: My name is Sarah. I'm in running club at my school too!
I hope you make it around the United States! Good luck!
– Sarah
Dear 5th grade
students: You guys are doing great. I'm in Running Club at DGS. I
have been in it for all the time I can. You are doing better than
I would have thought.
– Jesse
Keep on going 5th
grade, you are doing awesome. I run in running club at my
school. I can run up to 8 miles. I have run in below 0 weather
before, so keep on running. 5th grade, you are doing awesome.
– Maria
Dear 5th Grade:
We are at Dunlap Grade School next to Peoria, Illinois. I am in a
club called running club and we run almost 5 miles on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. Some of us just ran a race on December 3rd and it was 3.1
miles. It was very cold when we ran. I ran it in 26 minutes and 20
seconds and I won 1st place out of the 10 and under group for boys.
Here is a quote that I learned "It is good that you might have
placed, but it is better that you even had the courage to start."
I hope you guys and girls keep on running.
– Matthew
Dear 5th Grade
Runners: So far I think you've done a great job running. You
have run so many miles. At my school, we have a running club. It's
over for the Winter, but some of my friends still run in the cold
temperatures. Keep up the good work!
– Kaitlin
Dear 4th & 5th
grade: Keep going you guys. What you're doing is amazing. It
would take me 2 years to go just 50% of the way. So I'm glad you're
doing this and keep up the work.
– Grant
Dear 5th and 4th
grade students: I think it's cool that your running across the
U.S. Remember keep your head up and keep running. Do your
best, and run hard. Some kids here are in a program called Running
Club but I know for a fact you guys run way more. Good Luck!
– Jessica
We are glad
you are running. We have a running club of our own. The guy who
is going to really run across the Country (Paul Staso) is staying at
our teacher's house in Peoria, Il. Keep on running.
– Brandon
Dear 5th grade
students: I think it is a great idea that you're running even though
it is cold out. I don't run myself, but I think it's a great hobby.
Some of my friends are in Running Club, and they think that running
4 miles a day is hard work. You run way more than that. I also
hope you'll catch up on your running. Keep up the good work!
– Elena
Dear fifth grade:
Keep up the good work and don't stop running. Being behind
schedule, it's hard to get back on track, especially when you're 74
miles behind.
– Cameron
I think it's
really cool that you are running across America. Keep it up.
– Sarah
Keep running! You
can do it. Keep running. Running/walking are very good for you.
So keep up your hard and good work! We have a running club at are
school. It is for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. I'm not in it but I
would be if I didn't have basketball after school. Keep up the good
work!
– Maggie
I have been in
Running Club for 3 years and people think 5 miles is hard but you
guys run more. KEEP ON GOING.
– Evan
5th grade
students: My name is Minnie and I'm in 5th grade too. I am in
running club. I am sure I haven't ran as many miles as you probably
have. Keep up the good work. I know you can do it!
– Minnie
Dear 5th Grade
Runners: It takes a lot of work to do what you are doing. I
think you all are doing a wonderful job. Keep running until you
reach your goal!!!
– Emily
Keep on running
and don't slow down. I hope you get to the east coast
successfully.
– Jake
Keep running and
keep up the good work. I hope you will make it successfully.
– Seth
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