Two of my passions in life are working with kids and being active. It is so much fun when those two things come together. That is exactly what happens with Norway Running Club. I am definitely not the person who started the club many years ago, but I have the privilege of leading it now.
What Running Club looks like is myself, along with other teachers and parents, volunteering our time after school a couple of days a week to run around Norway with students as we train for a 5K. What may seem like just another workout turns into so much more with all of the students who sign up.
It is really cool to see how many kids sign up year after year to stay after school and run. Some have experience doing things like this before, but there are quite a few who have never done anything like it. One of my favorite parts is getting to see students who think they could never run three miles slowly gain endurance and confidence throughout our nine weeks of training. You see them learn things about themselves not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally.
They go through low points when they feel like they just cannot push themselves anymore, and we, as the adults, get to cheer them on and encourage them to believe in themselves. Then, at the end, when they get the chance to run the 5K surrounded by friends and family members cheering them on, you can see the pure joy and pride they have in themselves. Those are the moments that make Running Club so special.
Another positive aspect of Running Club is that I get to interact with students in such a different way than I do throughout the school day. I get to be outside, move around, and do hard things alongside them. It helps me create stronger bonds with my students and allows them to see me as more than just their teacher. That changes things completely when I see them at school. It creates a different kind of respect and connection on both ends.
We are just about to start another season, and I cannot wait to see the growth that both the students and I experience. I know there will be challenges, tired legs, and moments when they want to give up, but I also know there will be plenty of smiles, accomplishments, and moments when they realize they are capable of more than they ever thought possible. That is what makes Running Club so special to me.