  This
journal entry was written March 18.
This week was simply awesome! Both classes put in
a VERY impressive effort by logging well over
100 miles each. Also, both classes entered new
states! The 4th grade class left Iowa in their
footsteps and trekked onward into
Illinois,
while the 5th grade class crossed into the state
of
Ohio. Also,
the 4th graders chipped away a large part of the
mileage that they were behind pace, and are now
only 84 miles behind the pace needed to finish the
journey by the last day of school. Congratulations
4th grade! Keep on running and walking!
 Much
of the success of both classes this week is
because of their very supportive teachers who took
advantage of some beautiful sunny days and warm
temperatures by taking the classes out to run/walk
the half-mile park loop behind the school. Thanks
so much teachers!!
For
those keeping track, 5th grade has 661 miles
remaining and 4th grade has 1,016.
 The
4th grade students entered Illinois this week by
crossing over the
Mississippi
River at the Iowa/Illinois border. They will primarily stay
on Highway 116 and Highway 24 across the state, passing farm land against
a far reaching horizon. The largest city they will encounter will be
Peoria, with a population of 112,720 people. They will
cross over the
Illinois River
about half way across the state and upon completing the state they will
enter into the eastern time zone at Indiana.
The
5th grade students entered Ohio this week on
Highway 81 and will travel 250 miles across the state. Their course will pass
through such towns as: Willshire, Elgin, Converse, Allentown, Lima, Ada,
Upper Sandusky, Mansfield, Wooster, Guerne, Apple Creek, Mount Eaton,
Wilmot, Stasburg, Columbia, Parral, Dover, New Philadelphia, Uhrichsville,
Cadiz, Georgetown, Harrisville, Pleasant Grove, Colerain, and Martins
Ferry. Along the way they will run/walk past Ohio State University at Lima; the
Ohio State University
Mansfield Campus; Johnny Appleseed Heritage Center; the
Ohio Agricultural Experimental Station at Wooster; and, the
Quaker Meeting
House State Memorial before entering the state of West Virginia.
 Both
classes are continuing their trek through "Tornado
Alley" - which is the area of the
United States in which tornadoes are most
frequent. Generally, it encompasses the great lowland areas
of the Mississippi, the Ohio, and lower Missouri
River Valleys.
Tornadoes are the most
violent storms on Earth. Winds spiraling into them usually exceed 100 mph
and can reach speeds of 300 mph. In the USA, an average of 1,000 tornadoes
spin up beneath thunderstorms each year, and these typically kill about 60
people. Tornadoes have occurred in all 50 U.S. states are ranked by the
damage they do using the six-tiered "Fujita Scale".
 F0
and F1 tornadoes on the scale are considered "weak" and cause minimal to
moderate damage with winds from 40-112 mph. F2 and F3 tornadoes are
considered strong, packing winds of 113-206 mph that can cause major to
severe damage. Violent tornadoes are those classified F4 and F5 with winds
exceeding 206 mph. Damage is extreme to catastrophic. Most weak tornadoes
last 10 minutes or less, traveling short distances. Violent tornadoes have
been known to last for hours and a few have traveled more than 100 miles.
Tornadoes are especially common during the spring and early summer, and
May and June are the peak months in terms of numbers of tornadoes.
Doing a "virtual
run/walk" across Tornado Alley is a lot safer than actually going out
there and potentially encountering a tornado in your path! However, Paul
Staso's run across America this summer won't be "virtual".
Click here to visit Paul's P.A.C.E.
Run 2006 web site.
|
Some Encouraging Notes
We Received This Week: |
Great Job Kids!!!
Hope the winter has not slowed your progress... Spring's just around
the corner!
Braavo Furgi
Madison, Indiana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Hey,
kids! You are doing a great job. My son started running in fourth
grade, and now he calls himself "luv2run" because he still loves to
run! You all should be very proud of yourselves ... stay focused on
your goals and be sure to support one another as you make your way
on this amazing journey!
Anonymous
Ohio
_________________________________________________________________________________________
This
fun. Keep running.
Andy
4th Grade Student,
Russell Elementary School
Missoula, Montana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Russell
run run ahead of pace if you see a 5th grader.
Tyler
4th Grade Student,
Russell Elementary School
Missoula, Montana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Note:
Several students in Heidi Lindner's 5th grade class at Beaver Acres
Elementary in Beaverton, Oregon, sent the following notes of
encouragement:
 Hello, I
cant believe how much farther you guys got. Just do it! (Nike)
-- CJ
Hi! I
really love the way you are doing this. I hope that you have a fun
time doing it and will have great time. Bye!
-- Iman
Hi, I am
amazed how far you got. I'm just telling you to keep on going and do
your best. -- Rebecca
I hope
you're hanging on. I can't imagine how tired you are!
-- Brian
I don't
know how you have lasted so long. I know that I could never ever
walk that long. Did I mention you have walked 3,200 miles? My feet
would hurt for weeks if I walked that far.
-- Savanna
You 4th
graders are so close to your target place. I know you will go to
your target! -- Genevieve
_________________________________________________________________________________________
You
kids have done an amazing job with this challenge. 5th graders, take
a few minutes and encourage the 4th grade students. You were behind
pace at one time. Let them know that they can catch up to pace. 4th
graders, you have some unlimited miles available to you, take
advantage of this and get ahead of pace. The weather is GREAT! Get
your teachers to take you out for some quick runs/walks during the
day. GREAT JOB, AND CONGRATULATIONS! Russell 4th and 5th grade
students ROCK!
Diana Sontag
Parent of a
Russell Elementary 5th Grade Student
Missoula, Montana
|
Quote
To Think About: "Dream
barriers look very high until someone climbs them. Then they are not
barriers anymore."