100 Mile Club Mailbag: Questions and Answers for YOU!

My son is in the 100 Mile Club at Sky Country E.S. He picked up his slip that said he ran the 5K in Eastvale so he can earn the three miles. However, he has also run in the Citrus Heritage Run in Sept (also a 5k) and is thinking of running Mission Inn. Can he get credit for those runs as well? I still have his race bib from Citrus Park as proof that he ran there. It has his name on it also. Thanks for encouraging him to run!

Aleta, Mira Loma, CA

Thank you for the excellent question! The ultimate goal of The 100 Mile Club is for your son to complete 100 miles AT SCHOOL during a single school year. That said, as long as your son is working his hardest at school and logging miles diligently, I see no reason that his miles at these charity events can't count. We just don't want him to REPLACE miles from school with these race miles. Ultimately, it is up to your site Head Coach...please visit her or send her an email with this question. I will support the decision that she makes. :) Thanks again for your question! See you out and about!

What about miles logged walking to and from school? My daughter walks to school every day and plays soccer, too. Her coach makes her run a lot! Can we count those miles?

Please clarify with your child, teachers, and staff that miles for The 100 Mile Club™ may only be counted while AT SCHOOL. Sports practices, after school, to and from school, etc etc should not be counted. Doing so truly cheapens the process and makes it reeeeeaaaallyy easy for certain kids to get to 100 miles, while other less fortunate students watch and wonder…

The Mission of The 100 Mile Club™ is to provide to all students the opportunity to experience the powerful feeling of fitness and TRUE personal success by Accepting the Challenge of running (or walking) 100 miles at school during a single school year.

The words AT SCHOOL truly help us focus our vision and clearly state that miles completed must be done at school while on track.

Students may not count laps/miles completed with parents at home, during sports practices, etc etc…We need to keep everyone’s experience and journey consistent, and we cannot do this if kids are given “free” miles, miles for soccer practice, etc etc.**

Helping Feet Events are one other way to earn more miles, help your community, AND meet other 100 Mile Club Kids & Families!! Part of the mission of the 100 Mile Club® is to give back and teach the value of community service. We acknowledge the ability of each individual to do what they can to help local charities For this, we have our newly named "Helping Feet" program! Click here for more information...

The only other "outside mile" exceptions are those who are on home-hospital instruction. We do have one student undergoing treatment for leukemia walking on his treadmill at home. PLEASE help us reinforce this. The 100 Mile Club™ is an at school activity, and allowing for extra miles for some while others do not get the same opportunity truly cheapens the process. Also, Team Spirit piece is removed since all are not sharing the same experience.

We want our students to experience this journey together.

**We do have a school that allows students to log ONE MILE A WEEK at home. The kids and parents have to fill out a special form and have a parent signature. For this particular school, they and I worked very hard to keep with the integrity of the 100 Mile Club project while also honoring specific time restraints at their particular school. It works for them, and it can work for your school, too. Just be careful, keep the mission clear, and make sure to honor everyone for their efforts.

Hey! Welcome!

Welcome to The Official Blog of The 100 Mile ClubTM! Woohoo!

This is the place where I get to share all that happens throughout the year with the evolution and growth of The 100 Mile ClubTM. Who knows where we'll go! Just like the 100 Mile Club itself, we will go wherever this takes us.

I have told a few people how selfish I feel sometimes that I get to hear so many positive stories and see so many amazing things when I visit schools, read emails, and talk to our 100 Mile Club Head Coaches all over the state (and now the country!). Here's the place where I am able to share what I get to see and experience. It's so fun!!

Now. Here's the nitty-gritty real quick, just so you'll know:

• We're going to be casual. Seriously. No airs will be put on here. I'll learn as I go, so bear with me as we change and improve.

• If you want to submit something here...anything: a story, a thought, whatever...please do so by emailing us at info@100mileclub.com. We want to share all the positive happenings at all of our chapters. We have over 10,000 participants this year, and with that comes over 10,000 stories! Parents, teachers, friends, students...tell us your stories! :)

• The 100 Mile Club is an all volunteer non-profit organization. We are real people who are working extremely hard to bring The 100 Mile Club to as many people as possible. Every cent donated through membership fees, sponsorships, and events stays right here with us and helps us further The 100 Mile ClubTM mission.

The mission of The 100 Mile Club is to provide to all individuals the opportunity to experience the powerful feeling of fitness and TRUE personal success by Accepting the Challenge of running (or walking) 100 miles at school during a single school year.

Our philosophy is simple.

We believe that every single student has the ability to achieve true personal success and a new level of physical fitness by Accepting the Challenge of running (or walking) 100 miles at school or work during a single school year. These feelings of true personal success and fitness are ones that will carry a student to new levels of achievement in all areas: academics, athletics, and implementation of the valuable life skills identified in the blocks of Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success.

If you want to know more about the nuts and bolts of The 100 Mile ClubTM, including how to join or volunteer, please visit http://www.100mileclub.com/.

~Kara :)