JENSON USA Spirit Award Winner: Ryan Martinez

Phot courtesy of Jim Dorsey Photography

 Ryan was nominated more than once!  Here are excerpts from his nomination essays:

Ryan Martinez is a 1st grader at our school. His heart for 100 Mile Club® is HUGE. He is at my field at 6:55 every tuesday and thursday morning for our 7:00am run and can't wait to get going! He attends all of the "Helping Feet" events in the community, even events that I as a head coach can't make it to. I will view the pictures on facebook from the event and see his adorable face there. He always has a smile on his face, greeting the women that give him sticks as he passes each lap. The other day he came up to me and said..."I found this stick on the ground, so I wanted to turn it in to you." He is in first grade and already has honesty and integrity. Whenever he reaches a milestone, he can't wait to share it with his coaches...and he makes sure to let us know that he only has one more lap to go so we can cheer for him loudly when he is done. I can't think of another child in the two years that I have been involved with 100 Mile Club® that captures the spirit more than this little boy.

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Ryan exibit all the fine qualities consistent with the mission and philosophy of the 100 Mile Club®. He has logged over 170 miles and is reaching for a goal of 300 for this year. Furthermore, Ryan has combined his passion for running with this passion for helping others. He has participated in various charitable events that raise funds for worthy causes such as the Peppermint Ridge Center, Leukemia Foundation and the Hope Recovery Center. Ryan is a well rounded boy that looks to excel and make friends. He is worthy of such honorable award.

JENSON USA Spirit Award Winner: Vivianne Silva

Phot courtesy of Jim Dorsey Photography

I believe that Vivianne Silva should be a Jenson USA Spirit Award recipient because she is a very dedicated team member and member of her community. I have seen first hand how her friendly spirit directly affects everyone around her in a positive way. She is not only a model member of The 100 Mile Club® but she is a role model to her peers. (I am) the mother of two young girls, and Vivianne is the kind of young lady that I would love my daughters to look up to (and they do!).

Vivianne is a track athlete that not only participates in The 100 Mile Club® but is passionate about its mission. She has personally hosted successful fund raising events so that others can reap the benefits of The 100 Mile Club® through her donations. She not only sets the bar high but she leads by example.

I would love to see Vivianne recognized for her hard work and genuine spirit. I believe this would encourage her to continue her amazing work and it would motivate others to do the same.

Jenson USA Spirit Award Winner: Jonniece Quintero

Photo courtesy of Jim Dorsey Photography



Jonniece embraces the 100 Mile Club® as she does her faith with enthusiasm and honesty. She gives of herself which is, at times, very rare in our youth today. She shows a lot of responsibility when she reaches out to others with sincerity and eagerness. Jonniece strives to do her very best in every aspect of her life and her dedication toward the 100 Mile Club® is nothing short than exemplary. She strives to do everything with 100 degree effort. Her quick wit makes her extremely approachable and likable beyond most kids her age. Jonniece embodies servitude as she frequently helps and reaches out to others. She stands up for what is right and will defend anyone who is less fortunate and is so very humble about all of her good works. Her love for her God, her family and friends give her integrity that exuberates from this young lady from within; Her diligence and hard work is very rare in a child of her age and this all shines from within making all these characteristics part of her sweet nature.

Be The Best Of Whatever You Are

If you can't be a pine on the top of a hill

Be a scrub in the valley, but be the best little scrub on the side of the hill

Be a bush if you can't be a tree,

If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass

And some highway happier make.

If you can't be a muskie, then just be a bass,

But the liveliest bass in the lake.

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,

There's something for all of us here.

There's big work to do and there's lesser work, too,

And the thing we must do is the near

If you can't be a highway, then just be a trail.

If you can't be the sun, be a star.

It isn't by size that you win or you fail.

Be the best of whatever you are.

Douglas Maloch

Medal Ceremonies: A Montage from 2010

(Running) teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. 

This is what it's all about.

-PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian 

Medal Ceremonies!

100 Mile Club in Big Bear, CA  awarding Ryan Hall his honorary 100 Mile Club Medal before the 2008 Olympics

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 18 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 formally identify (aka- We DO NOT give out medals early) 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 life-skills 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.  All you pay is shipping. You can always come pick them up if you are local. You will definitely get them faster that way.  :)

Having fun on the journey to 100 miles! That's what it's all about...

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.

2. 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...

3. 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!

4. 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.

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

6. 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.
• Individual Classroom Visits...aka MEDAL Patrol!  As done by Orange Elementary School in 2009-10! They traveled from room to room with medals, certificates, loud music, a tiger mascot, and a rather large bullhorn! It worked!

Nolan in our Governor's Council Gold Medal. 

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!!

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...you just need to cover shipping.  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.

Jenson USA Spirit Award Nominations NOW OPEN Through February 19!!

The Jenson USA Spirit Award will be awarded to five (5) 100 Mile Club® Participants who embody the true spirit of The 100 Mile Club® at their school or place of participation. Recipients will receive a new, awesome bicycle courtesy of Jenson USA and personal recognition by 100 Mile Club® Officials both in-person and on the 100 Mile Club® website. Awards will be presented at our 2011 Run 4 Kids on March 19, 2011 at Auburndale Intermediate School. ALL 100 Mile Club® Participants in grades K-12 are eligible.

Nominations will be accepted until midnight on February 19, 2011 and award recipients will be notified through their school or site Head Coaches. Recipients within California are highly encouraged to attend Run 4 Kids, but of course if you are out of state, other arrangements will *certainly* be made.

Click here to nominate a runner today!

Cast Your Vote for our 2011-12 100 Mile Club® Tee

Searching for Gold

Awesome SBA Head Coach, Mrs. Rand!

Searching for Gold

Look beneath the freckles

Look beneath the grin

Look for that which sparkles

Buried deep within.

Look beyond the whining

Look beyond the tears

Look beyond the runny nose

The frowns, the mess, the fears.

Search for that which glitters

Treasures to unfold

Search beneath the surface

Search and find the gold!

~Jean Warren

A little card was given to me many years ago with the above poem inscribed.  I still have it, even though I have shuffled it around and around.  Somehow it always resurfaces.

This poem is for all of our Head Coaches and teachers who do this every day. 

Two friends finishing their 100th mile...together!

Childrens Brain Development Is Linked to Physical Fitness, Research Finds

 Science Daily (Sep. 16, 2010) - Researchers have found an association between physical fitness and the brain in 9- and 10-year-old children: Those who are more fit tend to have a bigger hippocampus and perform better on a test of memory than their less-fit peers. Read more.

 

SOURCE:  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2010, September 16). Children's brain development is linked to physical fitness, research finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 3, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/09/100915171536.htm