Forest Ridge Academy students participating in the school’s running club stretch in preparation of running towards their goal of 4.2 km.
Carla Allen photo
Forest Ridge Academy running club practicing for May 17
By Carla Allen
THE COAST GUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
The reasons why students in the Forest Ridge Academy running club joined are many: “to get healthy, it’s something to do, it’s good exercise, it helps your breathing, to learn how to run properly,” said several.
For close to two months the Grades 3 to 6 youngsters have been practicing twice a week trying to improve their distance with the goal of competing in the Youth Run sponsored by Doctors Nova Scotia at the Blue Nose International Marathon on May 17 in Halifax.
The marathon course is 4.2 km. The running club, under the coaching of teacher Andrea Mood Nickerson, was up to 3.2 km last week.
Nickerson says she started the club because the Department of Education is promoting exercise for youths.
“I wanted to give students an opportunity to become more physically active,” she said.
“They are doing awesome.”
She encourages them before setting off on each run to try and make fewer stops than the last practice.
“It’s all about pacing,” she said.
“Pretend that Tiger Woods is at the end waiting to see you but he can only wait for half an hour.”
Last year 2,270 students participated in the Youth Run. This year organizers hope to top the 3,000 mark.
by Carla Allen/The Vanguard 
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