Warwick Valley Middle School Mileage Club runs wild

By Ava Cauda
WARWICK — Before I entered Mileage Club I really only ran in Physical Education class (P.E.), but now I have a passion for running.
I run all the time now, but Mileage Club is not all about running, it is for walking too.
Now, running and walking may sound boring at first but the best part is doing it with your friends.
I have had the best time running and walking with my friends. We challenge each other to push ourselves to our limits. We have lots of fun doing so.
In Mileage club kids from 5th through 8th grades have rocketed past their goal. In fact, Samara Beauregard and Erin Kelly, both 5th grade girls at the Warwick Valley Middle School, finished at the top of all girls in their grade with 40 laps.
Also completing a whopping 40 laps are top 5th grade boy Jake Tanner and top 6th grade girl Olivia Martino.
Aiden Corbalis, the top 6th grade boy, finished with 39.5 laps.
In the fall and spring kids from the Warwick Valley Middle School in 5th to 8th grade can participate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
From dismissal until an hour later, kids get to have the best of fun with their friends. I have to say Mileage Club really changed my perspective on running. I love it.
Now this isn’t any club. This club isn’t only for the people that love running. This club was created to share with others how fun running can be.
Running isn’t just a warm up you do in P.E class. It’s a lifelong sport.
Sometimes you will see events like the “Friday Night Lights Half Mile Run” that took place on Oct. 5. Participating in this event with my friends was a challenge, yes, but definitely worth it,as I added two laps to my card.
Now you may be wondering what I meant by “I added two laps to my card”. Well, at Mileage Club we keep track of how many laps we complete on cards.
Each card holds eight laps (two miles).
Once we finish a card we earn a necklace with a purple or gold foot charm.
Every time we complete two more miles, we earn more feet for our necklaces.
The completed cards get taped to the “Card Wall” in the cafeteria where members can see where they stand among and against the other runners.
In fact, 265 card were completed in the most recent fall season.
This season 94 participants completed 2,320 laps, equalling 580 miles.
All I can think about is how far all of us have run in Mileage club.
Congratulations to all of the runners on finishing a fantastic season. Mileage Club will start back up in the spring when the warmer weather returns.
Ava Cauda is a sixth grader at the Warwick Valley Middle School.