Our Trip to Sacramento for The Governor's Council Ceremony

We did our best to document what we could on the whirlwind trip to Sacramento. I wish all of my 100 Mile Club® Kids and Families, and Coaches, and everyone could have been there with us. The whole time, I was thinking of you all...

Let's Get Technical for a Minute...seriously.

Basal ganglia volume is associated with aerobic fitness in preadolescent children.

Chaddock L, Erickson KI, Prakash RS, VanPatter M, Voss MW,

Pontifex MB, Raine LB, Hillman CH, Kramer AF.

Department of Psychology, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology,

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20693803

ABSTRACT, August 2010:  The present investigation is the first to explore the association between childhood aerobic fitness and basal ganglia structure and function. Rodent research has revealed that exercise influences the striatum by increasing dopamine signaling and angiogenesis.

In children, higher aerobic fitness levels are associated with greater hippocampal volumes, superior performance on tasks of attentional and interference control, and elevated event-related brain potential indices of executive function.

The present study used magnetic resonance imaging to investigate if higher-fit and lower-fit 9- and 10-year-old children exhibited differential volumes of other subcortical brain regions, specifically the basal ganglia involved in attentional control. The relationship between aerobic fitness, dorsal and ventral striatum volumes and performance on an attention and inhibition Eriksen flanker task was also examined.

The results indicated that...

• Higher-fit children showed superior flanker task performance compared to lower-fit children.
• Higher-fit children also showed greater volumes of the dorsal striatum, and dorsal striatum volume was negatively associated with behavioral interference.

The results support the claim that the dorsal striatum is involved in cognitive control and response resolution and that these cognitive processes vary as a function of aerobic fitness. No relationship was found between aerobic fitness, the volume of the ventral striatum and flanker performance.

The findings suggest that increased childhood aerobic fitness is associated with greater dorsal striatal volumes and that this is related to enhanced cognitive control.

Because children are becoming increasingly overweight, unhealthy and unfit, understanding the neurocognitive benefits of an active lifestyle during childhood has important public health and educational implications.

What does this all MEAN??

It means, let's get MOVIN'!
It means fit kids can pay attention more easily that their unfit peers.

It means what we are doing is helping our kids academically, physically and socially! 

It means what we are doing is working!

 

So...go! Run, move, walk, increase the volume of your basal ganglia!! At school, at home, before school, during school, after school...everywhere, all the time!  :)

GO!! 

Is there any reason NOT to?

The results are in. again.

Saying you don't have time to physically get out and move during the day because you, your students, and/or your school simply have no time and are too focused on "The Academics" is like saying you have no time to sleep because you are just too tired to be able to fit sleep in to your schedule.  Yea.  It's like that.

It just doesn't make sense.

This new study proves that exercise, optimal learning capacity, and brain development go hand in hand...in hand.

In an experiment published last month, researchers recruited schoolchildren, ages 9 and 10, who lived near the Champaign-Urbana campus of the University of Illinois and asked them to run on a treadmill. The researchers were hoping to learn more about how fitness affects the immature human brain. Read more from the NY Times blogger, Tara Parker-Pope.  She sums it up perfectly. 

100 Mile Club® Kids at Washington School in Norco ALL gather for a brisk morning jog. 

...the takeaway is clear. “More aerobic exercise” for young people, Mr. Kuhn said. Mr. Hillman agreed. So get kids moving, he added, and preferably away from their Wiis. A still-unpublished study from his lab compared the cognitive impact in young people of 20 minutes of running on a treadmill with 20 minutes of playing sports-style video games at a similar intensity.

Running improved test scores immediately afterward.

Playing video games did not. 

Source:  http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/phys-ed-can-exercise-make-kids-smarter/

Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports SPOTLIGHT AWARD Ceremony: The 100 Mile Club® Brings Home the Gold!

Click the screen to begin.

If you go to about minute 17, it is us. We were first up...

It was exceedingly apparent that the Governor's Council is the product of the two most important blocks of Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success: industriousness and enthusiasm. Without those two blocks, nothing else is possible.



Visit Coach Wooden's Website and an interactive Pyramid of Success at http://www.coachwooden.com/


Kenny Rogers, Executive Director, Jake Steinfeld, Council Chairman, and Karla Borromeo, Project Director made the day comfortable, enjoyable, and so incredibly special for us all.  Walking in, they knew my name, my son's name, and welcomed us with open arms.  The ceremony was equal parts pep rally and dignified ceremony...cheeky, entertaining, and simultaneously 100% mission-focused.

WE MUST HELP OUR KIDS RECLAIM THEIR HEALTH.

Best quote that I remember from the morning reception:

Our kids are our future, and if our kids aren't healthy, we have nothing. -Jake Steinfeld

Best thing said to me onstage right after a medal and a hug: 

YOU are doing it big time! - Arnold Schwarzenneger

WE are doing it big time.  What we are doing is working!  Last week, I received calls from schools in inner cities, schools in fancy ocean view neighborhoods, and schools in hard working suburbs.  They all have the same issues...getting kids healthy and reconnected to school, their commmunities, and themselves. 

We are in this TOGETHER.  Be sure to stay connected and join or bookmark our Facebook page, and even follow our periodic tweets!  The website calendar is a great way to stay on top of upcoming events, and if you have an event to add, shoot us an email with your info and we will add it...no matter where you are!

Visit http://www.calgovcouncil.org/Spotlight/ for more information!



Ultramarathoner Jimmy Dean Freeman Visits 100 Mile Club® School

At 9:30 PST on September 2, Jimmy Dean Freeman left his house in Brentwood and went for a little run...62 miles to be exact. All night. All the way to McKinley School in Corona. Waiting for him were 800 kids and a microphone. This is just silly little Flip video that we shot during the assembly...The real video is coming soon! Go, Jimmy GO!

Jefferson Award!

Doing GOOD 101: 100 Mile Club®, GOOD, and Pepsi are Making a Difference!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Heat is ON!!

The heat is on all over the country!

At the same time, our kids are BUBBLING with enthusiasm about moving moving moving!

I just have a few words of wisdom for you as you head into (or kick off) your 100 Mile Clubs:

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!! So do you have to drink eight glasses of water a day? No, but you do need to drink enough to satisfy your thirst, and maybe a little extra if you're going to be exercising. The best drink is water, of course, but milk is another great drink for kids. Juice is OK, but choose it less often than water and milk. Sports drinks are fine once in a while, but water should be considered the drink of champions. Read more...


Sometimes kids will be so excited about running (or walking) that you as teacher-coach must use your wisdom and coach kids to "take it easy". Remind them that they have aaaaalllllll year to reach their goals, and not to worry if they miss a day, if it is too hot, etc. Use common sense. And remind them to drink WATER!

Most kids (even older ones) cannot conceptualize the whole year and how long they have to get their 100 miles done...they feel this sense of urgency and may need to take a look at a calendar and plan out what they need to do to meet their personal goal. You certainly don't want anyone getting burned out or hurt. 10 minutes a day is more than enough time to move...

As with any p.e. activity, you have kids who may need to walk or sit out some days. Again, we are celebrating and encouraging personal best and some days personal best is...rest. Letting kids know that tomorrow is a new day and another chance to give their best and meet those goals is a perfect way to keep them motivated.

Set a specific day to wear shirts! Even if the kids wear last year's shirts until they earn their new one, this is a fun way to encourage community and campus spirit. Make sure to have your yearbook photographer out on those days! The smiles will be huge.

Enjoy and feel free to fwd this to your staff so they can be "in the loop"!

WHY EAT BREAKFAST? A Lesson and a Poem!

What's for breakfast - coffee? Most mornings, we barely glance at the kitchen. Fixing breakfast takes up precious time that's in short supply. But there's ample evidence that the simple act of eating breakfast -- every day -- is a big part of losing weight, lots of weight.

"People skip breakfast thinking they're cutting calories, but by mid-morning and lunch, that person is starved," says Milton Stokes, RD, MPH, chief dietitian for St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City. "Breakfast skippers replace calories during the day with mindless nibbling, bingeing at lunch and dinner. They set themselves up for failure." Read more.

WHY EAT BREAKFAST?

"Why eat breakfast"? Some folks might say....

you should know, it's the most important meal of the day!

It provides nourishment, that every body needs....

and first thing in the morning, it brings you "up to speed"!

Try some fruit with your cereal, or even a piece of toast...

limiting sugar intake, would help your body the most!

 The experts all agree, what I say is not bogus.....

 you'll become a better learner, because it helps you focus!

If you wanna lose weight, please don't skip this meal...

just make healthier choices, and extra weight will peel!

Breakfast speeds-up your metabolism, more calories you'll burn....

you won't feel as sleepy, you'll be more ready to learn!

It helps you concentrate better, It's food for the brain....

your stomach won't growl, and extra energy you'll gain.

So when asked "why eat breakfast"?

no need to raise your voice....

variation and moderation,

seems like a logical choice!

Coach A

Visit Coach A's Blog!

DON'T SKIP LUNCH: A Fun Poem from Coach A

One way to keep lunches green and healthy, is the Laptop Lunch.  I personally LOVE the little dipping sauce container.  :) Read below for more information on this very eco-fab way to pack a fun and balanced lunch!

I received this email from our own wordy-wordsmith, sporty-coach, and friend, COACH A. His poetry blog is here. Coach A never ceases to amaze us with his fun and educational rhymes.  Kiddos, eating healthy means eating healthy food throughout the day, not just NOT eating.  Please eat lunch. 

Hi Kara... We are experiencing a trend with our students... where they are not having lunch. I'm just wondering how pervasive the problem is elsewhere. I came up with the following ...(perhaps worthy of your site)... to hopefully begin a dialog.



Hope all is well with you and yours...

DON'T SKIP LUNCH

Now "lunch" can be defined, as a mid-day snack...

You shouldn't be a skipping it, and that is a fact!

You have got to eat some food, and not just have a drink...

It puts you in the right mood, it's easier to think!

Now part of growing up, is to give your body fuel...

Cuz you are here to learn, it's what we do in school!

The 411 is out there, the facts they are well-known...

Learning is a breeze, when your stomach doesn't groan!

Now if you're short some money, or left home with no sack...

You should see your teacher, and know we've got your back!

Don't tell me you're not hungry, or you're trying to lose weight...

Just please, Don't Skip Lunch, and things will be just great!

Coach A

Laptop Lunch Boxes were created by two eco-conscious moms about seven years ago when the savvy pair realized that the best way to help parents pack wholesome, low-waste lunches was to "provide them with a lunch system that was not only convenient and economical, but also appealing to kids." Thus, the Laptop Lunch Box was born. Made of lead-free plastic, its unique design, reminiscent of a bento box, features single-serve individual containers, reusable utensils, a water or juice bottle and a handy carrying case.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/green-kids-lunch-44071008#ixzz0xNNF4wlq

Where and when do YOU run??

100 Milers walking with their Principal and Assistant Principal!  Make time to walk with your kids as much as possible!  It makes a BIG difference!

Where and when do YOU run??


Make sure to ask yourself what your running opportunities will "look like" throughout the year. Don't worry too much about getting everything going perfectly from the get-go, just go for it. Try different things and times:

It is our hope that kids will have an opportunity to log miles throughout the day, with their teacher, and during part of their p.e. time, but many schools supplement that time with optional opportunities to log miles.

If I took you to 10 different schools, you would see 10 very different schedules. Here are a few examples of how schools supplement their classroom 100 Mile Club® time:

Morning runs. Even during the 10-15 minutes before school, you can allow kids to eek out a mile or so. Go longer if you want...many do!!

Recess and lunch time. You can teach your noon-duty supervisors to encourage kids to earn miles at lunchtime or recess. It gives some kids something to do...especially those who tend to just walk around anyway. They can walk and talk with theirn friends and esrn miles at the same time!!

After school. Sure, you can do this, too. Follow it up with a Homework Club or something. :)

Family Fun Runs! This can be a whole article! Gather one evening a trimester at school to all log miles together! Have a restaraunt come in to sell healthy meals and they will donate a portion of the proceeds back to your school. It's fun!!

Weekenders! Yes, we do have groups that meet on the weekends. There is one group that heads out on a hike up a local mountain every Saturday! As long as the whole school is invited, go for it!

Family Picnic and 100 Mile Club® Night!! 

I hope your creative juices are flowing...just know that:

(1) there are many many ways to make this a success,

(2) there is no wrong way to do 100 Mile Club® as long as you stick to the mission and philosophy, and

(3) do what is most comfortable for you and your site.

(4) If your schedule is NOT working, tweak it. Learn from your mistakes and move forward...always.

(5) If you are not having fun, you are doing it wrong.  :)

Really. It's that simple. :)

At the top of Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside, CA with Longfellow Superstars!

PENNY VOTE 2011!

So, what's our new tee shirt color?? Remember, every year ALL 100 Mile Club schools and groups have the same color shirt. We do this for very specific reasons...

READ ABOUT IT HERE.

What started as a simple way to cast a few votes and have a little fun picking our next tee shirt color quickly evolved into a massive Penny Vote Tour. As with most things 100 Mile Club-related, what started as a fun and silly idea, backed up with with lots of passion and energy ended up HUGE and taking over everything!! This was true once again with The Penny Vote.

Jared Walker, a former 100 Mile Club participant and very busy IB student at a local middle school, volunteered to lead the charge. It was a great service project for him! Jared set up a booth at Walk for Kids in 2009 and collected pennies in these cool vortex-topped water bottles:

The vortexes were all Jared's idea, and were soooooo cool!! This year, the Penny Vote Spirit continued, led this time by students at JFK High School in Norco, CA.

Color choices for 2010-11 were as follows (l to r) :

• Hunter green with white
• Royal Blue with white
• Turq with white
• Gold with navy

The kids (and adults!) had a ball watching the pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters, and even dollars go round and round and plop in to the color of their choice. klink! klink! klinklink! The coins kept coming...

These funny-looking (but fun!) Penny Vote containers travelled all over Southern California, and kids, parents, and friends all cast their votes with spare change. All the while, our collection boxes were getting heavier and heavier. Yay!!

This year, the coins were hand-counted...proceeds benefitted our student sponsorship fund. 

Are you ready?? After all was said and done, the results are:

• Hunter green with white: $14.79
• Turq with white: $132. 30
• Gold with navy: Zero (it was accidentally left behind at the initial Walk for Kids vote, and never made it back in...oops  O_o )
• Royal with white: $72.92

TOTAL COLLECTED: $220.01 WOW! (This was mostly pennies, by the way.) That's 22 KIDS!!  FULLY SPONSORED!!

So, our new 100 Mile Club® tee shirt color for 2009-10 is:

Turquoise with white!!

Thank you to everyone who voted this year! This just goes to show you that if everyone gives just a little, we can make a BIG difference.

100 Mile Club® Kids: Join us August 1st at 3:00 at DosLagos!!

The flyer above explains a little about this really cool thing happening on August 1st, right here in Corona!!

A group of soldiers are riding their bicycles from the east coast to the west coast, and ending their ride at Dos Lagos, on August 1, at approximately 3pm. Our goal is to have 100 or more enthusiastic kiddos and family members greeting these soldiers as they finish this 3,000 mile bike ride. They are riding to raise awareness and money for the Wounded Warrior Project. You can view their website at http://www.pedalinwithapurpose.com/.

It's a very worthy cause, and our goal is to have people cheer them on as they cross this finish line. We will even have some cold yummy water, and flags to wave. Join us!!  Wear your 100 Mile Club tee and show your pride!!

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

Would you (yes, YOU) be willing to have us come in to your room or school to film how YOU keep track of miles? Not the kids, just you and your bulletin board, sticks, stamps, clips, etcetc.


I have found that many teachers new to 100 Mile Club® really need to hear and SEE all of the different and wonderful ways teachers keep everyone "on track".

I want our new teacher-coaches to know:

(1) that there are many many ways to keep accurate track of miles,

(2) there is no wrong way to keep track and

(3) to do what is most comfortable for them...

Email us at info at 100 mile club dot com if you are interested...or fwd this to a teacher-coach at your site who is fabulous. We'd love to film as many ways as we can!

On This Day

This tapestry hung in my Uncle Son and Aunt Dina's offices (Uncle Son's real name was John, but his mother, my maternal GREAT Grandmother, called him Son...therefore UNCLE SON was always his name. I called my Grandfather by his first name but that's a whole different story) for as long as I can remember.  I grew up reading it whenever I'd sneak in there to read or play. Today, it hangs in MY office, which is just as cluttered as his but not nearly as interesting.

Here is what it says:

Mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed.


Keep a promise. Find the time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate, be kind, be gentle. Laugh a little more.


Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Worship your God. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still again. Speak it still once again.

--- Author Unknown

Round ONE: The Early Bird Gets Some Sponsorships.

Our Pepsi Refresh Project Grant, combined with  funds raised at our 2010 Walk for Kids is allowing us to do great things for our schools!  So far, we have allocated 929 Inventive Packages to schools who have registered early for our 100 Mile Club 2010-11 Cycle.  The qualifications were simple this round:  Be a returning school, OR be the first school in a new district where we currently do not have any 100 Mile Clubs. 

Our next round of sponsorships will arrive in mid-August, BUT in order to qualify, you must be registered and participating.  The application process will be completed all online, saving paper, trees, and valuable organization funds.  It is the goal of The 100 Mile Club to continue in the direction of a paperless office (we have a way to go, but we are on the road!). 

Welcome to the following schools so far!  Get your school registered and LET'S MOVE!!

Barton ES CNUSD

Cascade Christian/Puyallup, WA

CFIS CNUSD

Colony HS/CJUHSD

Condit ES CUSD

Corona HS CNUSD

Corona Ranch ES CNUSD

Creek View ES MVSD

Eastvale ES CNUSD

El Rodeo School/BHUSD

Fitzgerald Elementary/Rialto USD

Foothill ES CNUSD

Foothill Knolls SBCSS

Franklin CNUSD

Franklin ES RUSD

Garretson ES/CNUSD

Good Knight Child Empowerment Network, MD

Harada ES/CNUSD

Highland ES CNUSD

Jefferson ES CNUSD

Kids-a-Part VTCAS, VT
Lakeview Intermediate, Stow, OH
Longfellow ES LBUSD

Longfellow ES RUSD

McKinley ES BurbankUSD
McKinley ES CNUSD

Newman ES ChinoUSD

Orange ES CNUSD

Parkridge ES CNUSD

Rodriguez Prep-SBUSD

Shackelford ES/ModestoUSD

Sky Country ES JUSD

St Peter and St Paul Pre/K

Susan B. Anthony/CNUSD

Temecula ES/TVUSD

TemescalValley ES CNUSD

Todd ES CNUSD

Tuscany Hills ES/LEUSD

Vail Ranch MS TVUSD

Washington ES/CNUSD

It is NEVER too late to get started...in fact you are still early! Click here to register your school today!!

Visit http://www.letsmove.gov/ for more information. We are on the right track...pun intended!

A Special 100 Mile Club® Kickoff Assembly at Rosa Parks Elementary

Today was an incredible day. When did it become a daily occurrence that I have the honor and privilege of meeting people like Dan Benintendi? Sometimes when I get home at night, I ask myself, Did that just happen?  Is this really happening?  It IS!!

Two years ago, Dan weighed 400 pounds. Today, he is an ULTRAendurance athlete. He shared his story with some of our kids today at our 100 Mile Club® Kickoff Assembly at Rosa Parks Elementary.

  

"My goal is to restore a sense of hope, a feeling of self-worth, and a strong sense of accomplishment through every small trial or obstacle that is overcome by these wonderful children. If we can give them their pride, dignity, and self-worth back, we have a much greater chance of allowing them to gain their health back. Please, help restore hope to these children, help donate to a cause that is worth-while, and be a part of something that could change the lives of future generations to come." Dan Benintendi

The 100 Mile Club® Project has helped me connect with SO many people who see the true value in helping our kids become happy, healthy, and connected through attainable and personal physical fitness goals. I am humbled and honored each and every day...and I am having the time of my life!

Thank you, Dan, for visiting our kids today. Thank you for sharing your journey. Most importantly, though, thank you for taking care of yourself and showing our kids that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

Follow Dan at http://www.swimfromobesity.com/ or http://www.trimywill.com/ .

Jazzercise with the Stars!!

Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.

~Brian Tracy~

On June 5, 2010, a team of fearless 100 Mile Club® runners, coaches, and I left our comfort zones to raise funds for The Foundation for Community and Family Health's Breast Health Detection Program. Our team led one song in this special 60-minute Jazzercise class...Walk the Dinosaur!! Great job, everyone!!

It was the longest 3 minutes of my life, I think.  Thank you to my team for making it on a Saturday morning and doing something new. That's what it's all about.  :::clap-clap::

California State PTA Convention 2010 Pedometer Challenge Results!

The 2010 100 Mile Club CAPTA team from l to r: 

Patricia Hartson, BJ Walker, Kara Lubin, Dot Lubin, Tara Mackie

If you turned in your pedometer at CAPTA Convention 2010, your 100 Mile Club® Pedometer Challenge miles are listed here. Can you find yours?  PTA Convention this year was a BLAST (and I thought we had fun LAST year!). 

Remember the feeling you had when you brought your pedometer back to us to share your miles? Everyone who came to the booth had the. biggest. smiles. on their faces! You guys were all soooo cute! That feeling you felt when you came back to see us is very much the same feeling your kids will get when they participate in 100 Mile Club®. (Though the kids'smiles are WAY bigger!!) That pride makes it all worth it...


Here are the pedometer steps exactly as reported to us:

10000 15305 12000 15005 11000 12621 12008

10200 12220 12000 10281 11000 14334 12679

10097 12240 10809 10281 11000 1679 11030

10750 12230 10537 10118 6697 15285 10479

15339 14672 16401 10118 7000 10524 10000

16295 11000 13000 20708 22795 15000 11715

7864 11000 10319 10604 12210 16285 13825

10151 18096 10500 22000 12500 22871 6142

13361 4500 10500 15000 20481 22871 8500

10000 3421 4500 2730 2397 6000 6173

10000 4391 14562 9335 11111 7000 14000

18499 6397 2164 4000 11932 9000 6000

10581 15000 1962 9653 2565 15973 10000

1000 10800 12174 6000 2565 10137 11715

17457 811 14527 17981 13000 15470 13825

14406 3406 17830 10974 8372 13327 29916

14406 10127 10316 17981 7833 9754 10000

11082 10000 7998 10974 9512 22000 36290

1100 10081 7998 10000 10099 35269 12016

14199 10568 10218 15341 7218 16205 10000

14199 18479 11109 15597 7738 19488 17472

15638 12000 11109 12000 5000 19488 11500

9472 13626 10444 11036 7540 10400 8439

3745 10759 11000 12580 4287 21482 13000

13642 7000 15964 12000 13000 11061 12000

10376 11500 15000 13500 10158 41000 12000

12748 12000 12151 10491 10000 10629

12402 11000 11127 11000 10204 10000

All told, the fabulous ladies and gentlemen of CAPTA '10 walked...

1196.118 MILES!!!

That is over 250 more miles than CAPTA 2009!  Yay, you!! We hope you will consider Accepting the 100 Mile Club® Challenge at your school in 2010.  The registration form is right here: CLICK! :)

Print it.
Fill it out.
Fax it in.
And you're IN!!

Then, just go for it!  We are here for you.

ABC7 Profiles 100 Mile Club!!

LOS ANGELES SPARKS TO HONOR THE 100 MILE CLUB®

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks will celebrate and recognize The 100 Mile Club® and its members on-court on May 28th at STAPLES Center before they face the Washington Mystics at 7:30pm on Opening Night. Seats for 100 Mile Club® Families and kids are just $10.

Click Here for Flyer.

The 100 Mile Club® is a physical fitness and life skills project for all individuals based on the goal of running (or walking) 100 miles at school during a single school year. Since 1993, the goal of The 100 Mile Club® has been to help their runners experience fitness and true personal success through attainable physical fitness goals. Students use life skills based on The Pyramid of Success, designed by the legendary basketball coach, teacher and 100 Mile Club® supporter, Coach John Wooden.

“We are proud to honor The 100 Mile Club®, as they share our desire to create a more fit Los Angeles,” said Sparks President Kristin Bernert. “We are looking forward to celebrating their accomplishments with them on Opening Night.”

By recognizing The 100 Mile Club® and their efforts, the Sparks continue to demonstrate their commitment to promoting healthy, active lifestyles for today’s youth. With the launch of the “Get Outside & Play LA” campaign, the Sparks will focus on providing ample opportunities for children to improve their quality of life and “get outside and play.”

“To be recognized by the Los Angeles Sparks is an incredible honor,” said Kara Lubin, founder of The 100 Mile Club®. “We are thrilled to spotlight The 100 Mile Club® and our fit, happy, connected 100 Mile Club® Kids at the Sparks’ Opening Night. The Get Outside and Play LA campaign is a perfect fit for our organization.”

The 100 Mile Club® continues to effectively raise awareness among students in Southern California by providing them with an affordable and life-changing fitness program. The life skills they teach of ambition, intentness, industriousness, honesty and loyalty are the very essence of what Sparks players strive to be both on and off the court. At the core of their program they share the same vision of building healthier, more active and stronger communities.

For more information on tickets for Sparks Opening Night, please call 877.44.SPARKS. To find out more about the Sparks community initiatives please visit http://www.lasparks.com/ and for more information about The 100 Mile Club®, please visit http://www.100mileclub.com/ .

Warrior Dash: April 10, 2010!

"The greatest mistake you can make in

life is to be continually fearing

you will make one."

- Elbert Hubbard

(Goodness gracious NO! this is NOT L. Ron Hubbard, the scientology guy! Click the link...)

Here's to the fearless who came out to WARRIOR DASH and raised $$ for their schools!!

From L to R: Michelle Sanchez, Lucy and Viv Silva, Elysa Quinn, and Sol Shapiro...ROCKING the Spirit Wear booth!

This was a new adventure for 100 Mile Club, and I have to admit, I was a little nervous asking people to come out and volunteer for something that we'd never done before.  But, as the quote says, don't be afraid to make a mistake.  Worst thing that could happen was that we walk away with a generous donation and say, Wow. Never gonna do THAT again.  We went for it...and had a BLAST!!

 

100 Mile Club was able to FULLY sponsor 100 kids through the Warrior Dash Charity Partnership on Saturday.  Sponsorships were awarded based on school/volunteer participation. Thanks to everyone who came out! That was the muddiest, most fun and insane day ever...but we walked away with $1000 for our schools.  I think I left with dirt in my teeth...in a good way.  Plus, the Viking Hats!!  seriously? all worth it.

Here's how it all broke down:

• CFIS- 12 kids sponsored (Lucy and Viv S., and Jaz)
• CNUSD Lincoln- 4 kids sponsored (Shale S.)
• PomonaUSD Lincoln- 8 kids sponsored (Lora and Dot L.)
• Susan B. Anthony- 4 kids sponsored (Elizabeth S.)
• Raney Intermediate- 4 kids sponsored (Tiff S.)
• Garretson- 8 kids sponsored (Michelle S. and Elisa Q.)
• Washington- 8 kids sponsored (Patricia H. and David B.)
• Vandermolen- 28 kids sponsored (Jared, Tanya, Gary, Chris, Matt, Jill, and Coach Melissa!)

 

The rest of the sponsorships will be sent into our ABBIE Memorial Sponsorship Fund for use next year...thank you to the volunteers who came out!  It was great.  Hopefully we can staff 2 shifts next year and double our sponsorships! Who's in?

Promote childhood fitness through The 100 Mile Club Project. Pepsi Refresh Everything

Question from the Mailbox...(AKAs Added by me!)

When we get letters that may benefit everyone, they are published in Letters From the Mailbox.  This one concerns a little girl who is slightly worried about getting her miles done, and a great dad who is eager to help her...but not sure how exactly to do it in line with the mission and principles of The 100 Mile Club.  GREAT question, GREAT response from his Head Coach.  Way to go, everyone!!

Dear Kara,

My daughter recently hit the 50-mile marked and was so honored at school, checking off the appropriate box on her shirt. With so little time left of the school year, we are trying to get miles as quickly as we can. She is off-track, but we plan to go to the school this morning to see if we can join in the 100-mile club activities.

I measured out a course near our home that is just over a mile. If she walks the course and I confirm it, is there a way for her to get credit?

We understand if not, but just want to see what we can do. Her other commitments have made participating in most other extra-curricular walks challenging.

Thanks!

Mike (aka A Very Cool Dad)

Mike,

Here’s my thought, but you and your site Head Coach can work something out. It just can’t be special for one child…whatever you decide must be available to all kids. If you are in SoCal. There are SOOOOO many events coming up. Vicentia has 1st and 3rd Wednesday afternoons/evenings and Sierra Vista has their Second Saturday runs, as well. World Walking Day on May 8th is FREE and fun! There is Chad Zeller on the 15th and the 5K at Dos Lagos on the 8th of May. Anyway, check the calendar. www.100mileclub.com/calendar.html

I know it’s hard, but allowing unlimited miles to be completed at home with just mom or dad opens a whole can of worms with kids and families (trust me). The commitment was to have her complete the majority of her miles at school with classmates, etc. Having her go to school and complete her challenge with her “team” according to plan would be the very best way to go. Doing anything else cheapens the process, so be careful when you decide what to do.

Talk to your head coach…she may have something special that you can have ALL the kids have the opportunity to do at your school. I would think that maybe logging 1 mile/week at home MAXIMUM would be ok, but that would have to be approved by your coach and opened to ALL of the kids, not just one or 2 and would require parent signature. Does that make sense?

Let me know what you guys figure out.

~Kara

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dear Kara,

I think you are spot on. This would open a can of worms and you don't want hundreds of kids (and their parents) trying to work out their own process.



I am happy to just keep doing what we are doing and catch miles where we can.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

~Mike, AKA Very Cool Dad

And a thoughtful reply from their site Head Coach arrived just minutes later...

Hi Mike,


Students, who are off track, are more than welcome to come join us during our weekly walk times! :D We are out there Tuesday and Thursday mornings (8:00-8:20) and Wednesdays during the long lunch (11:00-12:30)! Since Mrs. Bakovic tracks miles in the classroom, I can keep track of what she does during her off track time! :D

All the Best,

Alice, AKA SuperSTAR Head Coach

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thanks, Alice. We actually went this morning and collected a few sticks. We plan to attend again as we are able and turn them in when she returns to school.


Have a great day!


~Mike

With the support of her father and Coach, this little one will certainly make it to 100 miles this year.  We all believe in her, and she in herself.  I can't wait to see her with her medal!  Send pictures!

Everything I Needed To Know About Life, I Learned From A Jigsaw Puzzle

Everything I Needed To Know About Life, I Learned From A Jigsaw Puzzle

Genius words from Jacquie Sewell, 1991. 

1. Don’t force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.
2. When things aren’t going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.
3. Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.
4. Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.
5. When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later (see #4).
6. Variety is the spice of life. It’s the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting.
7. Working together with friends and family makes any task fun.
8. Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.
9. Don’t be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.
10. Take time often to celebrate your successes—even little ones.
11. Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can’t be rushed.
12. When you finally reach the last piece, don’t be sad. Rejoice in the masterpiece you’ve made and enjoy a well-deserved rest.

© 2001 Jacquie Sewell

Everything I Needed To Know About Life, I Learned From A Jigsaw Puzzle

It's Almost Medal Ceremony Time!!

'Never worry about numbers.

Help one person at a time,

and always start with

the person nearest you.'

- Mother Teresa"

100 Mile Club® Medal Ceremony from 2005-06 at McKinley Elementary School in Corona, CA

The 100 Mile Club® Medal Ceremony has its origins right in my little classroom, and began the first year of The 100 Mile Club Project over 17 years ago. It is almost time for yours! The medallions this year are fabulous and so meaningful!  I can't wait to see them on kids! 

You need to know that...

• The 100 Mile Club® does not publicly identify or announce individuals who hit 100 miles until the end of the year awards presentation. Some individuals make 100 miles by mid-January…We let these individuals savor the inner rewards that come from humility, poise, confidence and friendship as they help others reach their goals, too. We ask that these individuals reach inside themselves and set new personal goals in order to reach their true level of competitive greatness.

Now that some kids are reaching 100 miles...

• They should keep running. They ran 100 miles with ease, and so they need to strive to hit THEIR personal best...whatever that may be. It may be 120, 150, or even 200! That is something the child needs to decide for him/herself.  We want them to practice the lifeskills of poise and confidence. Feel that pride and refrain from boasting. We will celebrate their personal best at the medal ceremony. We promise.
• They should help their friends. They are now a true role model. Others will look to them and seek their assistance, right along with you as HEAD COACH. Students who reach 100 miles become MENTORS themselves.
• They can pull together a group to run together as a team...Kids who reach 100 miles  have the opportunity to show true friendship, cooperation, and team spirit as they bring their classmates along so may all reach their personal best...TOGETHER!!

We ask that you schedule your medal ceremonies to allow as much time as possible to get those miles in.  Don't cut off too early (or too late!). 

• Medal Ordering can begin in April.  PLEASE allow at least 14 days from the date you place your order to receive your medals and certificates.  You can always come pick them up!! You will definitely get them faster that way.  :)

Here are MEDAL CEREMONY basics:

1. EVERYONE receives a certificate with the total miles run/walked written in and signed by the Site head Coach/es. Even if they walked 1 mile, they are recognized for making the effort.  Each Incentive Package comes with a certificate, so you are eligible for the total number you have ordered.  If you need more, let us know...


2. Make sure that everyone wears their 100 Mile Club® t-shirt the day of the ceremony. It is spectacularly unifying to have everyone in their tees, and it LOOKS really cool! Take pictures!

3. Only those who run/walk 100 miles will receive a medal. Everyone knows this going in, so it is no surprise. Trust me when I say that the medal is a huge motivator, and so is the recognition by one’s peers. The will work for it, and if they don’t quite make it, you celebrate anyway.

4. No you do not get 2 medals for 200 miles.

5. Have FUN! Ceremonies can be any of (but of course not limited to) the following:

• A School-wide Assembly. These can be wild and crazy, or dignified and noble. You make it what you want… have balloons, make a slideshow, have music, invite local dignitaries.
• A Family/Company Potluck, Picnic, or BBQ. Yes, families and businesses can be a 100 Mile Club™ chapter, too! You can end the year with a group picnic at the beach, lake, or local park.
• A Reflective Year-End Classroom Activity. This is actually how the ceremony began in my classroom. We invited all of the families of our individuals and spoke of each individuals’ achievements, as we announced their miles and presented medals and final certificates.

In sum, what you need to know is that The 100 Mile Club® Medal Ceremony is something that should be meaningful to you, your colleagues, and your participants. You are creating tradition with this, so plan well and make sure to always have FUN!!
 

Medal Ceremony in 2008-09 at Lakeview Intermediate in Stow, Ohio

Your site is eligible for the same number of certificates as you have Incentive Packages. For example, if your school has ordered 250 Incentive packages, your school is eligible for 250 certificates. We will add in extras in case you mess up. :)

Additionally, you will get medals for those participants who have crossed the 100 Mile point. PLEASE only order what you need. Again, we will add in extras for you "just in case". Ordering only what you need will ensure that we keep our costs down in the years to come.

Soon, you will receive a form in which you may include your order for these certificates and medals. They are already paid for...we just need to get them to you in a timely manner. PLEASE allow at least 14 day window for medal and certificate delivery. DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE. It will make us and you freak out.

Medal ceremony time is SO exciting! Make sure to set those ceremony dates and let us know when they are. More on this later! Woohoo!!

Eat the Rainbow! 23 Ways to Eat Better

So now that you are on your way to 100 miles (or maybe even to 200!), it's time to take charge of your eating. An easy way to begin is to think about eating your way across the rainbow...take a look at your dinner plate? What colors do you see? Fill that dinner plate with a wide array of fruits and veggies and look at how beautiful it is!  Soon, you will notice "what's missing" on your plate, as you visualize the rainbow every day at meal time.  :)

The article below is a fun and interactive way to pick foods from every part of the spectrum.  Have fun!!

23 Ways to Eat Better Women's Health Magazine

Walk for Kids 2010

To laugh often and much;

to win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children;

to earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends;

to appreciate beauty,

to find the best in others;

to leave the world a bit better,

whether by a healthy child, a garden patch

or a redeemed social condition;

to know even one life has breathed

easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you to our outstanding volunteers and sponsors who made this event possible.  For more amazing photos, click here.

Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy

The short story below is retold for children in this gorgeous book by Jon J. Muth. It has overtaken The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein as my very favorite children's book.

Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy

It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.

And this thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to any one who would teach him what was the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary people, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.

And learned men came to the King, but they all answered his questions differently.

In reply to the first question, some said that to know the right time for every action, one must draw up in advance, a table of days, months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Only thus, said they, could everything be done at its proper time. Others declared that it was impossible to decide beforehand the right time for every action; but that, not letting oneself be absorbed in idle pastimes, one should always attend to all that was going on, and then do what was most needful. Others, again, said that however attentive the King might be to what was going on, it was impossible for one man to decide correctly the right time for every action, but that he should have a Council of wise men, who would help him to fix the proper time for everything.

But then again others said there were some things which could not wait to be laid before a Council, but about which one had at once to decide whether to undertake them or not. But in order to decide that, one must know beforehand what was going to happen. It is only magicians who know that; and, therefore, in order to know the right time for every action, one must consult magicians.

Equally various were the answers to the second question. Some said, the people the King most needed were his councillors; others, the priests; others, the doctors; while some said the warriors were the most necessary.

To the third question, as to what was the most important occupation: some replied that the most important thing in the world was science. Others said it was skill in warfare; and others, again, that it was religious worship.

All the answers being different, the King agreed with none of them, and gave the reward to none. But still wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.

The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit’s cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.

When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.

The King went up to him and said: “I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?”

The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just spat on his hand and recommenced digging.

“You are tired,” said the King, “let me take the spade and work awhile for you.”

“Thanks!” said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he sat down on the ground.

When he had dug two beds, the King stopped and repeated his questions. The hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade, and said:

“Now rest awhile – and let me work a bit.”

But the King did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the King at last stuck the spade into the ground, and said:

“I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you can give me none, tell me so, and I will return home.”

“Here comes some one running,” said the hermit, “let us see who it is.”

The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit unfastened the man’s clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood would not stop flowing, and the King again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and rebandaged the wound. When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for something to drink. The King brought fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the King, with the hermit’s help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes and was quiet; but the King was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done, that he crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep – so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he could remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes.

“Forgive me!” said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the King was awake and was looking at him.

“I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for,” said the King.

“You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore to revenge himself on you, because you executed his brother and seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not return. So I came out from my ambush to find you, and I came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, and wounded me. I escaped from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have saved my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!”

The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would send his servants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore his property.

Having taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out into the porch and looked around for the hermit. Before going away he wished once more to beg an answer to the questions he had put. The hermit was outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.

The King approached him, and said:

“For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man.”

“You have already been answered!” said the hermit, still crouching on his thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him.

“How answered? What do you mean?” asked the King.

“Do you not see,” replied the hermit. “If you had not pitied my weakness yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with me. So the most important time was when you were digging the beds; and I was the most important man; and to do me good was your most important business. Afterwards when that man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most important man, and what you did for him was your most important business. Remember then: there is only one time that is important – Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!”