Jog-A Thon

"On your mark. Get set. Go!"

And they are off - over 140 sets of little legs, topped by enthusiastic smiles, and with a real racing number stamped on their back obviously supplied by the Bolder Boulder. The participants have a long way to go, but the afternoon kindergarten classes and first graders of Lafayette Elementary are not deterred - especially because most of them have no concept of time. They begin their 35 minute participation in Lafayette Elementary's Jog-A-Thon with hopes of running THE WHOLE TIME. They are advised to not use all their energy up at once, but what fun to watch the crowd take off like a shot and by lap three start to straggle around. They are just TOO CUTE. And my camera is forgotten at home.

I let Tildy jump in at lap three. She is way excited by the energy of the crowd and the shiny, happy people music blaring. By the time the event is over Tildy has run 3/4 of a mile and she is wondering when she can go to school.

The Jog-A Thin is my favorite fundraiser for our school. I love that it creates community, competitiveness of self and others, teaches discipline and the value of exercise, and raises money based on - nothing. No coupon books, no fast food restaurants, no junk food, or junk to add to the earth. (School Fundraisers) Just the power of the human body.

As I am watching the event, it is announced over the loudspeaker that the students of Lafayette Elementary have collectively run over 900 miles so far at this point in the day. I have no idea of the final count, but I think last year the approximately 650 kids ran all the way to the Mississippi River. And I am struck by the unspoken environmental message so obviously illustrated by the herd of kids.

If each one of us were to walk instead of drive a few miles each day, the impact on our fuel consumption and environmental pollution would be HUGE. Our individual efforts do matter when they are taken as part of a whole. After all, this collective of little legs adds up to the sum of pollution free cross country travel.