Welcome Elementary Teachers And Students!

So, what in the world is this all about?! Simply put, Paul Staso is a former 5th grade teacher and lifetime long-distance runner who ran across the entire United States all alone in 2006 to keep a promise to some elementary students. Now he wants to bring you along with him on his next running adventure... virtually! If you don't already know, between April 28 and May 15, 2008 Paul will be running 620 miles alone across the vast state of Montana in a mere 18 days. He'll push a stroller of gear and average 34 miles per day (more than a marathon daily) from the North Dakota border to the Idaho border without taking a day off - enduring various weather conditions and demanding terrain!

Now before you start saying to yourself "This guy's crazy", you may want to visit his Run Across America web site (www.pacerun.com) to see the challenging trek he's already accomplished and the positive impact his message has had on many kids. For P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 Paul will be virtually racing teams of young people who are located in schools around the globe, ranging in age from Kindergarten through 12th grade. They will run/walk at school and in local sports while he'll actually be on the road aiming to inspire, motivate and educate.

So, what's Paul trying to teach kids? Here's what he hopes his efforts will teach to those who participate:

Teaching Goals Of The Trek:

1) The importance of good health and nutrition, as well as the benefits of frequent and consistent exercise;

2) The benefits that can be experienced from running and/or walking (the original way to better fitness);

3) That if you take care of your body it can take you on some wonderful adventures;

4) A lot of interesting information about the 4th largest state in the United States... Montana;

5) The importance of setting goals and pursuing your dreams ─ no matter what they are;

6) That a positive attitude and the desire to positively impact the lives of others can be very rewarding; and,

7) That perseverance can take you places that you never thought you could get to.

Paul will not suggest to any student that he or she should be like him and aim to conquer enormous distances in order to be considered "fit" or "successful". Each person is an individual and has different strengths and non-strengths - even Paul. If his teaching goals outlined above resonate with you, please consider forming a team and signing up to take part in this FREE 18-day journey. Yep, that's right! There is no cost whatsoever for schools to participate, and the impact on your time as a teacher is minimal! As a former 5th grade teacher, Paul understands the value of class time!

To help schools get organized for participation in this P.A.C.E. Trek, we've put together a few guidelines.

1) A school can have more than one team! In fact, a school can have as many teams as it would like to create. Please try to have no more than 100 students on each elementary team.

2) Paul will be covering 241 miles per week for 18 days across Montana. For a team of 100 children to keep up with him, each of the students would need to contribute about 2½ miles per week.

3) On each team there should be no fewer than 24 students. If a team were to only have 24 students, then each student would need to contribute 10 miles per week to keep pace with Paul.

4) If possible, mileage should be acquired during the school day (unless sports or club related) while at Physical Education class, recess, or some other time established by the team's supervising teacher.

5) Some youth sports mileage will be allowed. Each team member who is also on a sports team (such as through YMCA or school), or a run/walk club, may use some of their mileage as follows:

Team Size:                   Mileage Allowed (Sport or Run/Walk Club):

80 to 100 students        Up to 1 Mile Each Week Per Person
60 to 79 students          Up to 1½ Miles Each Week Per Person
40 to 59 students          Up to 2 Miles Each Week Per Person
24 to 39 students          Up to 4½ Miles Each Week Per Person

NOTE: Allowable Miles Are Only Those Actually Completed!

6) Running and walking mileage counts towards a team's total. However, no other activity can be converted to miles in order to build a team's total (like converting # of jumping jacks to miles).

7) Students with special needs should be given opportunities to use the abilities they have to contribute to a team's distance. In such cases, converting the amount of an activity to miles counts.

8) Pedometers can be used to measure distance, but cannot simply be worn all day during school. Pedometers can be used during times established for running/walking to acquire trek mileage.

9) It is the responsibility of each team's supervising teacher to determine how he or she will keep track of mileage acquired by the participating students. Lap counting, pedometers, log books...

10) One supervising team teacher and up to 2 adult assistants may run/walk with students during school times set for acquiring trek mileage. The adults may add their distance to the team total.

11) Each participating team needs 241 miles per week to keep up with Paul. Some students may run/walk more than others, and that's fine. The team as a whole needs 241 per week to keep up.

12) Teams with fewer kids will need to log more mileage weekly if they want to keep up with Paul. However, the emphasis is on participation. It doesn't matter how long a team takes to finish.

13) Although the "race" part of this is friendly competition, it is not the emphasis of P.A.C.E. Trek 2008. Getting kids moving, thinking and learning is what is most important.

14) Once the trek is underway, teams shouldn't add more people. However, if a team member becomes sick or injured and cannot continue, he or she may be replaced if a substitute is available.

15) Teams can consist of multiple elementary grades. As an example, the Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade at a school can be a team, while the 3rd, 4th and 5th Grades are a team.

16) Students can follow Paul's progress across Montana via this site, which will have daily journal entries, pictures and videos from the road during the trek. This is active learning AND teaching!

17) Teachers are free to use any information from this web site for classroom activities or teaching opportunities. There is no limit on how much a teacher can do with the P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 event.

18) You'll want to decide on a name for each team you register. For instance, "The Road Runners"; "The Street Striders"; "The Exercise Squad"; "Walnut Elementary Fitness Nuts"; etc.

19) Teachers are encouraged to have a map of Montana in their classroom with the route outlined so that they can easily mark Paul's progress and the team's progress for all students to see.

20) It's beneficial for students to spend a little time at this web site whether it be in the classroom, a computer lab, or school library. Teachers could read the short daily journal entries to students.

21) Let the kids submit questions to Paul before, during or after the trek. He'll try to answer as many questions as possible at this web site. Teachers can also submit questions.

This should be a fun, learning, interactive, individual yet team-building experience for all kids involved. Every member of a team contributes to the team's progress, no matter if they are running or walking. The idea is forward movement - giving one's best to contribute to the team's goal of crossing Montana. Each step brings the team closer! Montana is known as "Big Sky Country" and there are a lot of BIG things to be learned and experienced during P.A.C.E. Trek 2008. Find your sneakers and let's get moving!