In an effort to explore new fitness strategies, the mile run will now be ran less frequently for all female students enrolled in physical education.

The decision was made after a majority of students from the previous school year complained about the difficult experience they had with running a mile.

“It seems like the boys don’t really mind [the mile] that much, but the girls make it into this huge thing where it’s all they ever talk about,” Physical Education coach Anne Kalenowicz said. “Now with the daily fitness, if you participate, you get full points, and we hope that this will take off some of the stress they had about the mile.”

Initially, the girls were required to cover the distance in under twelve minutes with the time dropping by thirty seconds each academic quarter. However, many students thought that this goal was too harsh.

“It’s something to get used to, but I feel like the new fitness program is good for us because a lot of kids are going to stop taking online PE and actually come to the real PE,” junior Madison Hurley said. “People just dreaded the mile and would skip despite our mile actually being shorter than what the boys have to do. [So, I think] it’s good and beneficial because they’re going to be getting that physical activity.”

To encourage more students to take physical education, the coaches have recently ordered new equipment and games designed to make physical activities more enjoyable.

“We want to turn the fitness room into a half CrossFit room and half game room so we’re ordering a bunch of new stuff for that,” Kalenowicz said. “Right now, we have a basketball shooting game and Ping Pong. We would like to get air hockey [and] foosball. We’ve also ordered a lot of yard games like Cornhole, Ladder Ball, Kan Jam, and Spike Ball so that we can do a new yard games unit [later in the school year].”

For returning juniors and seniors participating in Lifetime Sports, the elective will now offer a broader range of activities that will allow students to explore different ways to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“The whole purpose is we’re trying to get our numbers up in girls’ PE because when you’re online, it’s just assignments,” Kalenowicz said. “So, another way we’re trying to get [students] to come out for PE is by offering things to our lifetime fitness kids, the juniors and seniors, field trips. [Currently], we’re trying to get approval for a bowling field trip to Red Rock, mini golf at Towns Square, and things like that, [which as of now] is just going to be for Lifetime kids.” 

Despite the significant changes, the ultimate goal for both coaches is to foster a lasting appreciation for going outside within every student.

“It’s about doing life-long activities,” PE coach Michele Schmitt said. “[For example], bowling is something you can do when you’re 90. You can’t come out and play competitive basketball or flag football, but you can do mini-golf or hiking. So, we just want to connect these ideas that we have with all our PE classes because these are the types of lessons that will last them beyond their high school years.”