On Tuesday, May 16, 2006, at 1:17 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, it became official! The fifty-six 4th grade students at Russell Elementary School completed their virtual trek across America. The kids ran and walked one ½-mile loop of Playfair Park to rack up the 27 miles they had remaining on the 3,200-mile virtual journey across the United States. Amongst cheering parents, teachers, and students from grades K-5, the 4th graders covered the final distance in 90º temperatures - a record high for May 16th in Missoula, Montana. Cardboard signs were raised in the air, such as "Welcome to Lewes", "Awesome" and "Alright 4th Grade!", and the 5th grade students (who had finished the trek 3 weeks earlier) cheered for their schoolmates. Silly string was flying and a round of applause could be heard across the park. After crossing the finish line at Lewes, Delaware, they each received bottles of Gatorade that were donated by Mr. Dennis Fischer of Albertsons Supermarket in Missoula. Click here for pictures from the finish!

The 4th grade runners and walkers finished the challenge three weeks early and made a very impressive effort in the closing weeks of the trek. Overall, each of the 56 4th grade students averaged 57 miles during the 36 week journey - the equivalent of just over 2 marathons each. Along the way they received encouragement notes from people across the United States, as well as from such locations as Africa, Australia and Europe. Based on our research, they became the 2nd individual class to complete a running/walking virtual trek across the entire United States within one 9 month school year.

We truly appreciate the kind efforts of Scott and Jan Bixler who organized signs for the finish and the gatorade from Albertsons. Also, a thank you to Martha Robertson for the nice encouragement signs that were waved in the air as the students finished. Also, thank you to the 4th grade teachers, Pamela Serba and Linda Firebaugh, for encouraging the students throughout the year!

The finish by the 4th graders brings the Run/Walk Across America curriculum to an end for the 2005-2006 school year. It certainly was an enormous accomplishment by both the 4th and 5th grades at Russell Elementary and we are proud of each and every student that persevered through this challenge! Keep on running and walking!