5th Graders running the mile

[Veronica]

It's a good thing I've got until April to get my kids ready for this. My fastest kid was 9:16 today. But I had 6 who couldn't finish it in less than 20 minutes. Happily, four of my "chunky" girls finished in 17 minutes or so. I'm hoping to get them all down under 12. It was about 88 degrees our when they ran.

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

.... in myyyyyy day, we had to run a 6-minute mile for the Presidential Fitness whateveritwas. And people were running 50-mile races all over the country as part of that same JFK initiative.

Also, get off my lawn. <rattles cane>

[lph]

In MY day, schools never closed in winter after a snowstorm. Kids skied to school! And if they didn't have skis, they postholed through thigh-deep snow!

And I'm only just barely kidding. ;-)

Good luck Veronica! I hope they all achieve their goal.

[Veronica]

.... in myyyyyy day, we had to run a 6-minute mile for the Presidential Fitness whateveritwas. And people were running 50-mile races all over the country as part of that same JFK initiative.

Also, get off my lawn. <rattles cane>

I guess that's a sign of how less fit current society is. To qualify for the Presidential Fitness award you need to be in the top 15%. The current qualifying time for ten year old boys is right around 8:30 and for girls is 9:15.

Veronica

[skhill]

and I ran a whole mile for the very first time in my life when I was 37... Nice to know I can meet the standard for 10 year old boys easily these days, though.

I remember doing the presidential fitness thing circa 1980, and there were a lot of us doing more walking than running on that mile. Nothing new there!

[Catrin]

hmmm, while I've run a mile it has never been without some walking included...pity I can't meet the 10-year old boy standard I don't think we had the presidential fitness when I was in elementary school but THAT was in the '60s/early '70s.

[GLC1968]

Funny. I ran my fastest mile EVER when I was in 5th grade - and I still had to walk some of it! 7:40. I'll never forget it as I was one of the slower kids and it was embarrassing. That would have been in the mid-late 70's, I believe.

My how times have changed!

[nuliajuk]

88ºF = 31ºC
No wonder they had trouble. I can run a mile in about 12.5 minutes, but not when it's that hot. Even at 15ºC, I sweat for 20 minutes afterwards.

[Veronica]

It's already 70 degrees here at 4:15 AM. I'd have to wait until November to get cooler temperatures when I can take them out and then I have to deal with rain. They run around at lunch recess in those temps.


Veronica

[Melalvai]

The nice thing about have terrible heat & humidity for the pre-test is they can't hardly help but improve for the post-test. That doesn't mean their fitness improved, only the weather, but who cares, it'll be a great psychological boost to them and you!