CHICAGO — The Run Club at Decatur Classical School is so popular, there's actually a waitlist to join.
The West Ridge elementary school's Run Club has more than 100 second- through sixth-grade students — the school has about 300 students total — and a handful of teachers and parents. The club members run twice a week and almost all of them will be participating in Sunday's Cancer Survivors' Celebration 5K Run in Grant Park.
"There are students who started with no confidence and they are now strong and proud of their accomplishments," said parent Laura Symons, a Lakeview resident who helped found the club in 2015. "There are parents of students who have gotten healthy and started running for the first time in their lives. The community is stronger and healthier because of this club. I am hoping that this club will help these children adopt healthy habits for life."
Symons previously coached seasonal running programs at the school, and students wanted to run year round. The Run Club was created with about 50 students, and it's expanded to the point where there's a waitlist to join because there wouldn't be enough parents to supervise the runners if any more students were added, Symons said.
Decatur Classical School science teacher David Pfest, who also has been part of the Run Club since 2015, said the club "is a great way for students to challenge themselves outside of the classroom and away from a screen."
"So much of their day is spent inside and with technology, the club is a really healthy way for them to be outside and challenge themselves physically," Pfest said. "Being able to help facilitate this and interact with the students in this way is very rewarding. I am very fortunate to be able to participate with students and get to know them through the common interest of running."
Because of the school's running culture, Symons said, the girls cross country team has been successful — winning the city title in 2015-16 and finishing third this school year.
Symons said the Run Club represents the best of Decatur.
"The community is stronger and healthier because of this club," she said. "I am hoping that this club will help these children adopt healthy habits for life."
