We know it's hard to believe, but the second season of STRIDES is half way done! We are having such a terrific time with the students this season. The group is a bit bigger and the attitudes are so positive! We're going to share a couple of our favorite moments from the past couple weeks.
Anne: I think my favorite moment was last week when we had all of the students check in about the goals they had set a few weeks earlier for the 5k Run/Walk. At the beginning of the season, we had each student write down his/her goal for the 5k, steps to achieve the goal, barriers that might come up, and ways to overcome the barriers. Yesterday was our day to check in and see if they are doing what they need to do in order to achieve their goals, or if they need to re-assess the goal or change their efforts.
One student had never run before and set a goal to walk the 5k. He didn't want to run. However - with some encouragement - he has become quite the runner. He says before STRIDES he never got any exercise and that this is really good for him. On top of that, yesterday he announced to the group that he is changing his goal - he is going to try to jog the whole 5k! This group continues to impress me with their positive attitudes and their willingness to put an effort into the program. This story is an example of just what STRIDES is about - running can build confidence in teens and a group like STRIDES can offer support for teens to set their standards a little higher and work towards something they didn't think they were capable of. I can't wait to see his face on 5k day!
Ashley: My favorite moment of the season so far comes from the same session. During the physical activity component of most STRIDES sessions, we do run/walk activities that focus at the individual level. Participants decide what they want to accomplish each session to try to reach their ultimate 5k goal. Each season, though, we try to throw in team-building activities to help build our participants' social support.
After doing the goals check in, we decided to divide our participants into two groups for a relay race and upped the ante a bit by telling them we'd provide a special incentive to the winning team. One of our consistent walkers told me that she'd be running that day because she didn't want to let her teammates down. In fact, this was the first day that every single one of our participants ran the whole workout. The social support I gained during my years running competitive cross-country is, by far, the best thing the sport has given me, so I was especially proud to see eight smiling participants jumping up and down and cheering with wild abandon as each of their teammates completed their leg of the relay.
Ashley: My favorite moment of the season so far comes from the same session. During the physical activity component of most STRIDES sessions, we do run/walk activities that focus at the individual level. Participants decide what they want to accomplish each session to try to reach their ultimate 5k goal. Each season, though, we try to throw in team-building activities to help build our participants' social support.
After doing the goals check in, we decided to divide our participants into two groups for a relay race and upped the ante a bit by telling them we'd provide a special incentive to the winning team. One of our consistent walkers told me that she'd be running that day because she didn't want to let her teammates down. In fact, this was the first day that every single one of our participants ran the whole workout. The social support I gained during my years running competitive cross-country is, by far, the best thing the sport has given me, so I was especially proud to see eight smiling participants jumping up and down and cheering with wild abandon as each of their teammates completed their leg of the relay.
Smiling ear to ear!
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