Cross Country Running is an annual school tradition in the fall.

• All students are welcome to participate.

• Practices are usually every Tuesday and Thursday, at 7:15am, from the end of September until the end of October at Dovercourt Recreation Centre.

• At each practice, students participate in a series of drills and race day preparation runs for 30 minutes. Parents, teachers and students then walk to school as a group in time for the 8am bell.

• Students who attend almost all of the practices (they could miss up to 2) are able to participate in the OCDSB Cross Country race. The focus for Churchill students would be to “beat your best”.

Usually there are well over 50 students who consistently come out to each practice, rain or shine!!!

Cathy Poch, Churchill Phys Ed teacher and lead for the Cross Country Team, shares that:

“Perseverance and positive self-talk was always a focus – at every practise. Running is not easy, let alone waking up early to do it! We always ran, rain or shine, wind or cold. We teach the students that mind-set could make or break their experience. Do we complain about the weather or do we dress properly for it? Do we focus on how tired we feel or do we tell ourselves how amazing we are for even doing this! “I am strong, I can do this, I am improving” are mantras we often taught the kids to repeat in their heads as their limits felt pushed.”

“We always focus on doing better than the last time. Their ultimate goal is to be able to complete their race distance without walking. Therefore each practise, their goal might be to walk faster, walk less or not walk at all! …in which case the focus is to increase their pace. That being said, we also teach the students about the importance of figuring out their own personal pace (no matter how fast or slow) so that the goal of not walking can be achieved. We want all students leaving each practice to feel intrinsically proud of themselves for being there, pushing their limits and doing their best!”

Thank you so much to Cathy for guiding our students to achieve their personal success!

Published: Updated 2023

Tags: confidence, Cooperation and teamwork, Outdoor learning and play, perseverance