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Students to run marathon distance

Students at Giant’s Head Elementary School are lacing up their shoes for a marathon, one kilometre at a time.
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Celebrity runner Kevin Cutjar joined Giants Head School students this week in their continuing marathon. He is a winner of the Penticton Ultraman title and a coach of triathletes. He told the students all endurance races are run a kilometre at a time.

Students at Giant’s Head Elementary School are lacing up their shoes for a marathon, one kilometre at a time.

Alana Buckingham, organizer of the marathon, said the goal is to inspire the students to develop a love and habit of regular exercise.

“It’s not about how fast you do it; it’s about doing it,” she said.

A marathon is 42.2 kilometres, but Buckingham said that is too far for the students to run in one session.

Instead, she said the students will run in smaller increments until they have accumulated 40 kilometres.

The final 2.2 kilometres will be run at the school on June 15.

Children in Kindergarten and Grade 1 will run a half marathon distance, while students from Grade 2 to Grade 5 will run the entire distance.

Buckingham said the program is set up to encourage students to participate regularly.

She said her family set up a similar marathon three years ago and she wanted to bring the concept to the school.

“I’m really passionate about fitness and a healthy lifestyle,” Buckingham said.

“This is all about a healthy lifestyle, healthy choices and the importance of fitness in our daily lives.”

Students began accumulating their distances on April 10 and will continue until the race day on June 15.