The start of the "Save CC 5K" - Photo by Tara Wildes/Jacksonville.comI was in North Florida this weekend visiting family. On a whim, I checked the "First Place Sports" race calender before leaving home. I was looking for a race to run, and found a disturbing story. It seems that Duval County Schools is cutting Cross-Country and several other programs to save money. I will not waste everyone's time getting up on my virtual soapbox to give my opinion as to why a low cost sport like XC was chosen for that list over many other very equipment intensive activities. Suffice to say that the Jacksonville running community has rallied around their future and are attempting to raise the $70,000 dollars necessary to fund all 17 XC teams in the Jacksonville area for next school year.
Thus was born the "Save Cross Country 5K" and several other fund raising efforts. I was really thrilled to see over three hundred runners when I arrived at Bartram Trail High School for the race. I think the total would have been well over five hundred had it not been for the holiday weekend. For a race designed to raise money, this one was impressive; chip timing, well marked course, and many of the other comforts normally attributed to larger races made this event special for reasons besides the obvious cause. I had a great time and ran a comfortable pace while trying to show support for the race organizers, parents, and of course the student athletes.
Please consider donating to this worthy cause by clicking HERE to donate. I know that some may be thinking they have nothing to worry about in their community; but as I told the race organizers and parents spearheading the fund raising, if it can happen in Jax, it can happen anywhere. Some of you, like myself, ran cross country in high school. You know what it meant to you to be part of that team, so you know what it means to these young athletes. Lets send the message loud and clear to school boards across the country - we care about our kids, especially the one's that run!
Weekly Training Log:
Sunday (06/26/11) Strength Training + 2 mile walk
Monday (06/27/11) 4 mile Road Run + 2 mile walk
Tuesday (06/28/11) Strength Training + 2 mile walk
Wednesday (06/29/11) 6 miles - Hunt Club + 2 mile walk
Thursday (06/30/11) 2 mile walk
Friday (07/01/11) 5 mile Beach Run
Saturday (07/02/11) Save Cross Country 5K
Weekly Running Total: 18 miles
I wonder if a program like this could be run with NO school budget at all? In other words, I wonder if XC goes fully self sustained if the school would still support it. And how many other school programs would go that route?
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