The science of running

Danette Goulet

COSTA MESA -- They huffed and they puffed and they raised lots of

money.

“I got 1,000 bucks from a company,” said Jordan Young, 8, jumping up

and down with unleashed energy. “My dad just went to this sponsor -- his

company [Good Guys].”

It was California Elementary School’s annual jog-a-thon, which raises

money to cover the salary of a school science teacher.

But before that teacher gets too excited, Jordan was a bit hasty.

“I don’t really know how much I got,” the second-grader amended a few

minutes later.

Last year, the event brought in a little more than $22,000, but

organizers hope to hit the $25,000 mark this year, said Stephanie Beck,

the school’s foundation co-president.

Any extra would help fund technology at the school, she added.

To earn that money, students got friends, family members and neighbors

to pledge a sum for every lap they ran in 30 minutes.

“I got 20” sponsors, said Michael Fuentes, 8. “I went to my neighbors,

and I’m going to do 20 laps.”

Students in the thick of things were not quite as gung-ho. Many

alternately walked and ran as the “Boot Scoot Boogie” blared across the

field.

But when spirits and energy lagged, students had mentors there to spur

them on.

“Come on -- no time to walk,” said Louis Valdes, a 15-year-old

wrestler from Estancia High School.

Louis was one of many athletes who volunteered to attend the

jog-a-thon. There were also girls’ softball players and football players

from the high school.

“It’s cool,” said Freddy Rodriguez, 17, a football player. “They look

up to you and see you running too.”

The school staff did not rely only on the athletes, though. They also

got out there to run alongside and cheer on the children.

In fact, the school’s principal, Jane Holm, was heard singing along

with the “Sesame Street” theme song as she jogged alongside a fifth-grade

class.