Run Team Teaches Students About Setting Goals

Published April 11, 2014

By all accounts, Sunset Elementary School's new-and-improved Run Team is a huge hit! Each Tuesday and Thursday, more than 130 students in grades K-5 stay after school to run with their friends.

"This is our first year to have it set up for anyone who wants to run," said Run Team Coordinator Jessica Morgan. "Each student will run or walk a mile during each practice. After every mile they receive a foot token to help them track their miles."

Sunset Elementary is not the only school with a run team. Many schools have similar teams that encourage students to log 25.2 miles in the weeks leading up to the County Music Marathon in Nashville. On Sunday, April 27, those students who wish to be part of the Kid's Rock marathon can run the final mile at LP Field.

Morgan says the Run Team has been a great tool for helping students understand the importance of setting and accomplishing goals.

"Our parent coaches, Anne Cobb and Heather Parks, have been a major motivator for the students," said Morgan. "Each practice they ask the students to set a goal for that day. When the students complete their goal they get to sign the Goal Hall of Fame poster. We also look for any student that goes 'above and beyond' for the week and present them with a special Run Team shirt which they get to sign and wear the following week. It has been a great experience."