By Bethaney Phillips

Students at Lincoln Elementary School gathered to run on the dirt track outside the school on Monday morning. Their efforts count toward personal miles, known as Marathon Club, starting August 26th.

Marathon Club takes place each school day (weather permitting) from 7:45 to 8:15. Students can show up any point during that time to run or walk. After each lap, they collect a popsicle stick, which is then placed in a container outside their classroom. Sticks are counted by Lincoln PEP volunteers and count toward the student’s overall mile count.

“I usually like to count sticks when the kids are on their way in from the track so I have a better chance to steal a hug from one of my kids,” she said. “I really enjoy getting to see a little slice into my kids’ day when I am in the halls.” She added that when her middle child was reading morning announcements, her teacher asked her to say “I love my mom,” knowing Schaefer was in the building. “It was a very funny surprise to hear her say it over the PA system.”

Schaefer said some students will run up to 30 laps in a single morning. With eight sticks equal to one mile, that’s nearly four miles before the morning bell. Schaefer also said miles usually taper off with cold weather, then ramping back up in the spring.

Elementary kids who reach mile intervals are recognized at Friday assemblies, called Rise and Shine. Once students reach marathon status – 26.2 miles – they earn a t-shirt. The shirts are paid for by local sponsors and are free to the kids. Class and grade milestones are also mentioned (five, 10, 15, and 20 miles), adding excitement to the activity, teachers said.

PEP volunteer, Bridget Schaefer, said she began counting sticks in 2019 as a way to be closer to her kids during the school day.

Marathon Club began during the 2017-2018 school year. For the 2023-2024 year, students ran a total of 12,601 miles, while teachers and staff members finished 8,093 miles. In total, 247 t-shirts were earned by students and adults alike.

“The beginning of the year is a very busy time for the Marathon Club,” Schaefer said. “There is always a bit of a race to see who will get their Marathon Club t-shirts first.”