Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Woodland Middle School’s new Running Club announces the community’s first 5K runWoodland Middle School Running Club students will be planning and managing the Woodland Way 5K

 

Woodland Middle School’s brand-new Running Club, including students from fifth through eighth grade, announces the first Woodland Way 5K which will take place on Saturday, March 25, 2023 starting at 9:00 a.m. The students in the club will plan every element of the race including designing the course, finding sponsors, designing t-shirts, and even managing the run on race day. 

Clarissa Rinehart, Woodland Middle School’s art teacher, created the Running Club this year to encourage students to challenge themselves while also staying active. “I want kids to love running because it’s a great way to stay active and healthy,” she said. “Additionally, when you’re an adult, it can be challenging to find team sports or other activities that require multiple people; running is something you can take part in where you don’t need anyone else to be successful at it.” 

 

Clarissa Rinehart (left) started the Running Club to offer students a way to stay healthy and active after schoolClarissa Rinehart (left) started the Running Club to offer students a way to stay healthy and active after school

 

Rinehart has always loved running, starting back when she attended Woodland Public Schools as a student, however her passion for the sport started after her father-in-law inspired her. “My real passion started when my father-in-law ran his first 50K at 60 years old which made me think, ‘Well, if he can do it, surely I can do it,’” she remembered. 

A “50K” is a 50-kilometer race, and the run Rinehart chose to participate in, the Hood Mountain 50K, involves trail running up and down the mountain. Having just given birth to her son, Rinehart trained for an entire year and successfully completed the Hood Mountain 50K the next year. “It was the first time I genuinely felt like I accomplished something I thought I never could do,” she said. 

In addition to teaching and serving as the teacher adviser for the Running Club, Rinehart also started the school’s afterschool Art and Crafts clubs this year, too. She was unsure of exactly how popular the Running Club could be. “While I knew Art Club would be popular, I didn’t know about Running Club,” she said. “We had a big turnout with more than 20 kids taking part with walkers, joggers, and runners – kids from every activity level.” 

Some members use the club to keep up their fitness when the sports they play are no longer in season. “I play soccer and the Running Club provides a great way for me to keep up with my off-season training,” said Tanner Hood, an eighth grader. “I think it’s really cool that the club is open to kids from all of the grade levels because it helps build stamina and stay healthy.” Rick McCants, a seventh grader who joined the club with Hood, agrees, “I’ve always loved running and I think it’s extremely cool that we get to plan and put on a community event, too.” 

 

The Running Club is one of the school's only clubs which cater to all four grades (5th-8th) without splitting up gradesThe Running Club is one of the school's only clubs which cater to all four grades (5th-8th) without splitting up grades

 

Younger students may feel a little intimidated, however the club members go out of their way to accept any interested members. “It’s a bit unusual for a club to have all grade levels involved, but I really enjoy running because it gives me an opportunity to practice before softball season starts,” said Addison Beauchene, a fifth grader. “Ms. Rinehart is incredibly nice and since she’s a good runner with a lot of experience, she’s an excellent coach for our club.” Beauchene also finds planning the club’s 5K incredibly satisfying, “I like seeing other people doing what makes them happy; it makes me happy to watch them.” 

Rinehart ensures all her clubs, including the Running Club, accommodate students from any walk of life, including students with disabilities. In fact, the students in the club, who are planning Woodland’s first 5K race, are designing the course to accommodate wheelchairs and other accessibility needs. “I really want to give back to the community that raised me and serve as a positive role model both during school and outside of school,” said Rinehart. “The Woodland Way 5K offers a family-friendly experience that also shows kids they can succeed at things that aren’t ‘kid things,’ like finishing a race.” 

 

In order to accommodate anyone who would like to participate, the students are designing a course that will be wheelchair-accessibleIn order to accommodate anyone who would like to participate, the students are designing a course that will be wheelchair-accessible

 

All proceeds raised from the inaugural Woodland Way 5K will benefit the Woodland Middle School Running Club, however Rinehart hopes to support nonprofits and charitable organizations in future years. “The funds used to start a lot of this year’s clubs won’t be here next year so we need to become self-sustaining in order to offer this club year-after-year,” she explained. “The club members are reaching out for donations, they’ve designed medals and t-shirts, and they’re planning the entire run.” 

Interested in participating in the first Woodland Way 5K?

The Woodland Way 5K is open to all who want to participate and will take place on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. starting in the Woodland Middle School’s gymnasium located at 755 Park St, Woodland, WA 98674.

Registration is $15 for adults (18+), $10 for children (6+), and free for children under five years of age. A Family Pass is available for $50. Registration includes snacks and raffle entries. All proceeds benefit the Running Club.

You can register online at the following webpage: https://bit.ly/WoodlandWay5K-2023