Journal Entry For March 5 - 11, 2006

Missoula, Montana Weather Conditions: High temps in the 30s, lows in the 20s. No snow or rain. Some breezy days.

4th Grade Distance Completed This Week: 82 miles

4th Graders' Location and Total Distance: 14 miles from Cedar Rapids, Iowa [2,051 miles - They're BEHIND Pace]

5th Grade Distance Completed This Week: 46½ miles

5th Graders' Location and Total Distance: Goodland, Indiana [2,378½ miles - They're AHEAD of Pace]

Quote To Think About: "Jogging is very beneficial. It's good for your legs and your feet. It's also very good for the ground. It makes it feel needed." (Charles Schulz - Creator of the "Peanuts" characters)

This journal entry was written March 11. This week Parent/Teacher Conferences were held on Thursday and Friday, which meant there was no school for students on those days. Even so, the 4th graders added 82 miles to their total distance, a great effort! Although they're in Iowa and still behind the pace needed to complete the trek by June 9th (the last day of school), their teamwork over the past week has shown that they can put in the effort needed to chip away at the distance in order to get back on pace. We believe that they'll do just that over the next few weeks. The big news for the 5th grade this week was that they entered the state of Indiana, their 10th state on this 15-state trek! Both classes had a good week - even though there were only three days of school.

This week the students received a nice note of encouragement from Olympian Ruth Wysocki, who represented the United States in the 1984 Olympic Games by running the 800 Meter and the 1500 Meter in Track and Field. Her encouragement note is below. Ruth is well known for defeating Mary Slaney during the 1500M in the 1984 Olympic Trials, ending Slaney's four-year winning streak where no American woman had beat her on the track. That moment was featured on the cover of the August 1984 issue of Track & Field News (shown to the right). Her winning time of 4:00.18 was more than 13 seconds better than her lifetime best up until that race. During her career Ruth competed in 5 Olympic Trials (1976, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996), a feat which shows her strong talent and longevity in the sport. We truly appreciate Ruth taking the time to encourage the Russell Elementary students. She says that she has been following their progress through this web site and has "no doubt" that they'll make it!

The 5th grade class has 140 miles remaining in the state of Indiana, while the 4th grade class has 120 miles left to go in the state of Iowa. The 5th graders should enter Ohio in about 2 weeks, while the 4th graders will likely enter Illinois in the same amount of time. Both classes are doing great and we hope that visitors to this site will continue to encourage them weekly!

If you have visited this site before and have not become familiar with Paul Staso's upcoming run across the United States (to begin June 23rd at Cannon Beach, Oregon), you should visit the PACErun.com.

Thanks for checking in on their progress. They're getting there!

I've been meaning to write before this to tell you how proud I am of you and your dedication to your Run-Walk Across America. I have a former class-mate from the Old Willard School keeping me posted as to your progress, as I don't have a computer. You'll see by my address that I live on the route you took, about 65 miles out of Missoula. Boy, you breezed by here so fast, I didn't even have time to write and say howdy. You're probably through Iowa by now, with the end almost in sight. Keep up the good work, help your teammates along, and I'll be looking forward to your reaching the Atlantic.

A very proud, former Missoulian,

Skip Hayes
Helmville, Montana
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I want to tell you how good you guys are doing! I wish I had gotten to do this last year! I really want to encourage the 4th grade students. You may be behind the 5th graders but you guys should really keep trying! You will always look back on this! When you look back on this you will want to remember how hard you worked. You wouldn't want to remember not working hard. So turn in the yellow slips and make this a moment you will never forget. You will probably never do this again unless you turn out to be like my dad [Mr. Staso]! 5th graders remember to keep encouraging the 4th graders and keep doing an awesome job!

Jenna Staso
6th Grade Student - Meadow Hill Middle School
Missoula, Montana
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Hey 4th grade, remember to count the miles you walk to school and home every day.

Mrs. C
Russell Elementary School
Missoula, Montana
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Hi Kids, I'm so happy for you! Come on 4th graders "you can do it!" That's my running team's motto. I ran in a race and did my fastest time for the mile. 6:29! I ran 4 days a week all Fall and Winter. I ran sometimes for 35 minutes without stopping. I know "you can do it!" I did! Go 4th graders, don't give up, you'll catch them! Way to go 5th graders! Go go!

Raven
Elementary Student
New London, Connecticut
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Come on 4th graders, you guys can catch up to pace!! Turn in your yellow slips and kick it in gear. We want to see both classes reach this goal and send Mr. Staso across America this summer. 5th graders, you guys are doing great and are in the home stretch! Keep up the pace, success and Delaware are within sight!!

Stacey Rossmiller
Missoula, Montana
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You kids are great! The determination to make your goal is very impressive. I have watched you since you started and am so impressed with both the 4th and 5th graders. The support that you show each other is really neat. What a wonderful school you come from. Bet you will make your goal in fine time. Keep up the speed.

Irene Hiller
Grandparent of Two 5th Grade Participants
Missoula, Montana
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I think that's very cool. I would like my school to do it too. Hope you can finish it. Good luck.

Irina
3rd Grade Student - Hellgate Elementary School
Missoula, Montana
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It has been exciting to see what you are doing at your school and I'm looking forward to watching your progress. My name is Ruth Wysocki and I have been a runner for almost 40 years. I ran for the United States in the Olympics in 1984. I got my start in running when I was about 10 years old, and I'm still doing it. I'm so thrilled to see your school make running fun when sometimes others make running a punishment. They are helping you enjoy something, set goals, and create a memory that will last a lifetime. Perhaps I'll be watching some of you run in races in years to come. My own son is in 4th grade, and I taught middle school PE for 6 years. I always encouraged running when I was teaching. Not only can almost anyone run, but you can feel like a winner even if you don't cross the finish line first just by accomplishing your goals and improving your times. Keep pushing toward that goal. I have no doubt that you'll make it! I will be watching your website to see how you're doing!

Ruth Wysocki
1984 Olympic Team Member - 800M and 1500M (Track & Field)
Temecula, California

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