Dear Families of 4th Grade Boys, Yeah! I am so excited and ready to begin our fall season of Let Me Run! (The version of Girls on the Run for boys!)
A brief introduction: Let Me Run is a non-profit prevention program aimed at strengthening boys in body and spirit. Our mission is to encourage boys to stay on track to living into their full potential by inspiring healthy friend, family and community relationships. We use the power of running and lively group activities to equip boys with tools to lead a balanced and fulfilling life -- emotionally, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. Our boys feel the strength of being connected to others through positive communication and team interaction. Upon leaving the program we watch for our boys to take responsibility for all aspects of their health and confidently lead for positive change around them.
A typical Let Me Run practice begins with a healthy snack. From there, the team runs a paced "Unity Lap" with that day's "Words to Live By" (my favorite from last year: "The best part about being on a team is you always have someone on your side"). We proceed to dynamic stretches (that is, stretches that involve movement), and begin our run for that day. After the run, the boys do a static stretch (stretches that involve little movement), and we move into that day's lesson. The culminating event of our 7-week program is a 5k. This fall's 5k, Speed for Children in Need will take place on December 8 at 3:00 p.m. at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and from the details I've seen, it will be awesome.
This year, practice at Trinity will take place from 3:35-4:50 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons beginning Tuesday, October 23. Space is limited to 14 students, so if you are interested, please register as soon as possible here: http://trinityepiscopal.racesonline.com/
We will first open Let Me Run to 4th grade boys. Next week, we will reach out to 5th graders, space permitting. The cost to register is $100. Your registration is your commitment to have your boy at practice every Tuesday and Thursday, and at the 5k on December 8 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. If you or a family member is a runner, I encourage you to register for the 5k separately. It was amazing last year when some of the boys had moms, dads, aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters running in the race with them. They saw how big their team was!
This is my second year with Let Me Run, and I can attest to the powerful impact this program and the 5k had on all involved. I am thrilled to have just locked down our Healthful Living, cross country, and track coach Jason Martin as the assistant coach. He is an amazing runner, and I know his participation will teach the boys (and me!) so much.
Trinity has a special connection to Let Me Run; our retired Dean of Community Life, Joanne Stratton Tate, sits on the board of Let Me Run, and continues to play a fundamental role in developing its curriculum.
I cannot wait for our season to begin in just under a month. It promises to be full of challenges, hard work, deep soul-searching, and, ultimately, reward as the boys learn the vulnerability and courage it takes to be themselves.
Please feel free to call me 704.607.6435 or email me amerritt@tescharlotte.org with questions!
Sincerely,
Alex Merritt
