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Splash photo by Tammy Kimberley

Over a hundred Liberty Lake Elementary students spend two afternoons a week participating in Fit for Bloomsday, an after-school fitness program designed to help students prepare for the Bloomsday race.

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In the May Wave: Readying for the run; Kids' poems wanted for contest
4/29/2015 9:41:45 AM

Readying for the run
LLES students participate in Fit for Bloomsday program 

By Tammy Kimberley
Splash Staff Writer

On a recent April afternoon, a mass of students crossed the intersection between Liberty Lake Elementary School and Pavillion Park. After brief instructions, kids in bright-colored tennis shoes took off running on sidewalks around the park, and jackets were soon cast off in a pile on the grass. 

The challenge? To collect a rubber band for each completed lap in order to earn the privilege of running a two-mile loop the following week. The purpose? To learn the importance of fitness, nutrition and safety during the afterschool Fit for Bloomsday program.

Over 150 LLES students signed up this spring for the training that helps prepare kids to run or walk Bloomsday in Spokane on May 3. 

Some ran individually. Others walked in groups and chatted. As kids and their adult trainers passed one another, shouts of encouragement were heard such as, "C'mon guys. We gotta push it!" and "Great job!"

Brady Reding, 11, kept a good pace and was one of the first to earn the right to run the two-mile route. A regular in the program for several years, Brady tied with another student for the most laps completed out of the entire school when he was just in third grade.

"I'm not sure if I'm going to do Bloomsday this year, but I like being around friends while I run," he said.

Daelyn Wiese, 9, said participating in Bloomsday is a tradition that started when she was in a stroller. On this particular afternoon, she was pushing herself and her friends to complete the needed laps.

"I like having time to run after school with my friends and not bug my mom and dad about it," she said.

Denise Peterson, physical education teacher and Fit for Bloomsday trainer, said the program has been offered each spring since the school opened. The training was available to students in grades 2 through 5 on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from mid-March through the end of April. Led by LLES teachers, the program helped students understand the importance of warm-up exercises and safety while developing self-confidence during the training. 

"We talk to them about stretching and the importance of water," Ms. Peterson said. "We hope students learn a bit more about pacing themselves and moving for enjoyment as well as keeping themselves healthy."

Second grade students Abby Nielsen and Victoria Usab were eligible to participate in the program for the first time this year. Abby said running is an activity her whole family (dad, mom and little brother) enjoys. Victoria said she might do Bloomsday for the first time this year, but even if she doesn't, she just enjoys running with her friends in the program.

Tyler Holmquist, 11, said he did Bloomsday last year with his mom and brother. The fifth grader joined the program for the first time this year.

"I enjoy hanging out with my friends and getting some good exercise," he said. "I play basketball so this will help me get better."

The Lilac Bloomsday Association offers incentives for the estimated 6,000 participating elementary-age kids in 60 schools. In the past, students have received certificates for each milestone they reach, and special coupons are often provided to places such as Riverfront Park, Mobius Kids and the Garland Theater.

But the personal achievement is a reward for many involved. Kelly Radmaker, second grade teacher and Fit for Bloomsday trainer, said students learn the importance of building endurance and setting goals for themselves.

"There are some kids who can barely run one lap at the park when they begin the program, and by the end can run the whole two-mile loop. Other kids run the whole thing from the beginning, but are trying to improve their times," she said. "We talk about the importance of just trying to beat yourself each time.  That's one of my favorite things to watch!"

• • •

Kids' poems wanted for contest

Cinco de Mayo, celebrated on the fifth of May, recognizes the triumph of a small Mexican army over French forces in the 1862 "Batalla de Puebla." In this battle, French forces threatened to capture Mexico City and turn it into a French monarchy, but a small amount of troops rallied their resources and forced the French to retreat. 

While the day is commonly mistaken for Mexican Independence Day (which is celebrated in September), this battle preserved the freedom of the Mexican people. To celebrate this idea of freedom, The Wave is asking kids to write an acrostic poem using the letters of the word FREEDOM.

An acrostic is a type of poem where the first letter of each line spells out a word or phrase. It can be silly or serious, rhyme or not rhyme. You can use adjectives or action verbs, one word per line or an entire sentence. The fun thing about acrostic poems is that it's entirely up to you!

If you need an example, here is an acrostic about spring that was entered by Benjamin Coe of Liberty Lake in a previous Wave contest:

Summer is around the corner

Pretty flowers begin to bloom

Rainy days

Insects start to crawl and fly around

Nests full of eggs

Good-bye to cold weather.

Entries will be judged on their creativity and use of descriptive words. The winner will receive a summer-themed prize package. In addition, the winning entry will be featured in the July issue of The Wave, just in time for celebrating our nation's independence on July Fourth. 

Kids in kindergarten through sixth grade who live or attend school in Liberty Lake are eligible to enter this contest. Only submit one poem per person, please. Be sure to include your name, age, parent's name, city you live in and phone number. Poems can be emailed to tammy@libertylakesplash.com or delivered to our office, 23403 E. Mission, Ste. 102 in Liberty Lake by May 29

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