More than 800 Fayetteville-Manlius elementary school students, families and staff members recently took to the streets of Syracuse to work on their fitness.
On Oct. 2, about 825 Fayetteville-Manlius School District students, staff and families participated in the 2016 Syracuse Festival of Races. The annual event takes place near Syracuse University’s campus and features men’s and women’s 5K races, a community walk and a 3K Fun and Fitness run in which the F-M elementary students, parents and teachers participate.
Fayetteville Elementary registered 550 participants for this year’s run, Mott Road registered 140, and Enders Road registered 135, for a total of 825 F-M participants. (Those numbers could actually be higher if there were last-minute registrants the day of the race.)
For the 16th consecutive year, Fayetteville Elementary won the Festival Cup for having the most participants in the 3K run. In addition to retaining a trophy, the students once again have the opportunity to design the t-shirts that participants will wear for the following year’s event. Mott Road was recognized for being the second largest school group participating and Enders Road placed third.
“F-M’s participation in the event really illustrates what the 3K run is all about, which is encouraging families to get out there, get moving and have fun,” Festival of Races Director Dave Oja said.
F-M’s three elementary schools have been participating in the event since 1992. Laurie Valentine, one of the Fayetteville Elementary physical education teachers, agreed that the event is a great way for students and their families to spend time together while exercising. It’s also an opportunity for F-M’s participants to get to know each other better, she said.
“We all come together and work as a team,” Valentine said. “It’s not a competitive race and the course is flat. It’s a way to get everyone moving while having fun.”
To motivate students, their families and school staff for the race, Valentine helps coordinate the Run, Walk, Jog Club, or RJW Club. Prior to the race, students and their families were invited to four after-school sessions where they could prepare for the race by running two different courses: a 0.2-mile course and a 0.5-mile course.
“Events like the 3K run and the RJW Club help students discover physical fitness,” Valentine said. “It’s important to expose students to activities that can keep them active for the rest of their lives.”
Along with Valentine, F-M’s physical education teachers include Matt Murphy at Fayetteville Elementary, Dan Rayome and Nora Campbell at Enders Road Elementary School and Tom Winiecki and Kory McMahon at Mott Road Elementary School.
