| " In 25 years, the nationally recognized organization for women's fitness has shifted its focus. But it's still known for its spring run along the Mississippi, which is drawing younger, more diverse devotees." " Coed walk; race walk; 3K family walk; ½-mile and 1-mile kids' fun run (under 12); coed wheeler, women's 5K; men's 5K." " Kids hate running laps. But give them a game or a goal and they'll run their hearts out, said Linda Mochler, physical education specialist at St. Paul's Friends School." ""Just find something you enjoy doing," Mochler counsels her K-8 students. "It doesn't have to be sports. It doesn't have to be competition. It has to do with moving and taking care of your body."" "Lots of her kids find that running is a great niche for them. Last year Mochler felt like she'd found the perfect event to capitalize on that when she discovered the Melpomene Run/Walk, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. She started promoting it in P.E. classes, dedicating the first 5 or 10 minutes to tag, games and other running activities. The kids don't think of running as an antidote to obesity or low self-esteem. But it is." ""This event was so powerful," Mochler said. "It transformed so many of my kids and their belief in themselves. Kids who weren't super athletes, who were sort of dragging before, suddenly have belief in themselves."" "Fifty of her students joined in last year's Melpomene's 1-mile or ½-mile kids' fun run, giving them the largest participation from any single school. "I had a lot of parents who watched 5- or 6-year-olds run a mile come up to me and say, 'If " "Word spread, creating a ripple effect. One kid would sign up for this year's run, then friends followed. A kindergartner's mom reported, "My kid can't stop talking about this." Interest grew in the middle school running club. Four middle-schoolers already have signed up to run the 5K -- 3.1 miles is a "big deal for a young kid," Mochler said. She expects 75 Friends students to take part in this year's Melpomene run. " "She describes triathlons and distance runs as "tests of personal fortitude and accomplishment," not competitions. She teaches students to pace themselves and listen to their bodies, learning the difference between pain and discomfort as they build endurance." "Judy Mahle Lutter and a friend started Melpomene in St. Paul 25 years ago; it's named for a Greek woman who defied authorities to run the Olympic marathon unofficially in 1896. They focused on research and promotion of physical fitness in women and girls, a unique effort for its time." "As major universities and health organizations overtook the scope of Melpomene's research, it shifted to a health focus, broadening its reach to boys and girls. Meanwhile, its annual run, which starts at one of the Twin Cities' most beautiful urban intersections, became known for awarding every child runner a winner's ribbon." ""Every kid who did that [Melpomene] run last year was successful because they finished," Mochler said. "Once they had that glimmer of success, they felt more confident as runners, as movers. They try to show me, 'Look, Linda, how fast I can run.' They just carry themselves differently."" "If the Friends
... read the whole article |