Elementary School students running a marathon? Sounds like a big ask! Here’s how it’s done at the Singapore American School (SAS) via the school’s running club in Singapore.
Joining a Marathon Club
When third to fifth grade students (ages eight to 10) at SAS join the Marathon Club, they sign up to run a full marathon. But how does an elementary school student achieve the 26-mile (42-kilometre) goal?
This is where it gets interesting! The school breaks the 26 miles down – the elementary student runs one to two miles a day (around 1.5 to 3km), until they reach 26 miles. Breaking the distance down makes it an achievable goal. This helps the students to foster goal-setting skills. The 26-mile journey begins at the start of the school year and provides the students one more outlet for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle during this time.
Each year, over 500 elementary school students participate in the Marathon Club, a long-distance running club in Singapore. The culmination of this collective effort by their elementary school students is celebrated as an achievement of the student body. Overall, it’s an initiative that the school says promotes fitness, perseverance and a sense of accomplishment.
Singapore American School is at 40 Woodlands Street 51.
6363 3403 | sas.edu.sg
This article on the Singapore American School first appeared in the March 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
Keen to read more? Find out how SAS builds a love of learning among its students including in elementary school, and how they make the student learning journey exciting.
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