AAPS: Northside Elementary School: Cross Country Kids

This is the start of our mini 5K. A 2.1 mile run on the grounds of Northside Elementary School on June 8th, 2010. Over one hundred and thirty of our runners from the age of 4 through eleven participated.


Rushing to finish the last lap of the day!	Two completed cards!

Northside Elementary School's Cross Country Kids Program ®

In This section you can meet the people, runners, and sponsors that make our program as successful as it is.

The Cross Country Kids 2009-2010 spring season began on April 13th, we ran every Tuesday and Thursday morning. We had over one hundred and thirty two children run with us this spring. Our inaugural Fall CCK 2009 season was fun and exciting, it was also a HUGE success. we had over seventy runners participate. Remember our motto, run fast, run hard, walk if you must... but always finish!

Why is cross country kids offered at Northside? It's been scientifically proven moderate to vigorous exercise improves the attention span of both children and adults. Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are typically less "hyper" in class if they have regular physical exercise. Regular exercise is a safe and effective treatment for mild degrees of depression, and it also seems to boost the moods of people who aren't depressed. Hey... isn't this a great reason to have a quality physical education program and running program at your school!

"In an American Heart Association 1996 report, research showed children age five years and older should have a MINIMUM 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity (walking briskly, for example), and 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity (such as running or playing basketball) at least three times a week." - Robert Needlman M.D., F.A.A.P.

When running your heart muscle responds with a higher stroke volume at a lower heart rate increasing the ability to use oxygen. Running also increases bone density and increases the amount of synovial fluid in the joints making them stronger. If you need some research proof of the effects of running on the body click on the following link, http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2008/august/running.html)

Cross country kids offers forty five minutes of running twice each week.
If you need another reason we have a cross country kids program...???

It's FUN of course!!!

Fun First!