Youth running program focuses on social-emotional learning and physical fitness

WINDSOR — A dozen students from the Windsor and West Windsor elementary schools recently played a game of tag, but with a twist.

The player who was “it” –and had to search for and tag the others — was blindfolded, dependent on the guidance of a helper to hone in on the other students.

“I can literally only see blue!” Beckett Bachey, 8, exclaimed as he donned a blue bandanna for his turn as “it.” He held his arms outstretched as his helper, Henry Griffin, 8, guided him with verbal instructions until each other player was close enough to tag.

The game took place last Wednesday on the lawn outside the Windsor High School building and its purpose was to emphasize the importance of learning from and helping others.

The students belong to one of the newest chapters of the Upper Valley nonprofit, Finding Our Stride, founded by Norwich resident Jenny Williams in 2011. Through games and running, the program aims to get kids outdoors and active while building social and emotional skills. It has after-school running teams in 22 schools in the Upper Valley.

“I love running,” Henry said as he grabbed a garden hose during a water break. “I like going super fast.”

Liam Maes, 8, was quick to point out that he is faster than his older brother Jack, who is 10.

But Finding Our Stride isn’t about speed.

“The goal of the program is not to create runners, the goal is to create healthy kids, and support kids’ social, emotional and physical development and help them impact their communities,” Executive Director Greg DeFrancis said.

Finding Our Stride is free. The coaches, Windsor teachers Megan Roberts and Melissa Fox, run practices twice weekly, and the program provides snacks for everyone and vouchers for any student needing a good pair of running shoes, DeFrancis said.

Fox, who teaches middle school science at the Windsor School, said she enjoys getting to know the kids before they arrive in her classroom.

“I love the opportunity to build relationships with elementary-aged kids who will be my students in a few years,” she said.

DeFrancis is in his third month as Finding Our Stride’s executive director. For more than two decades, he served as the Montshire Museum of Science’s director of education. He is a runner, cyclist and Nordic skier, who coaches elementary and middle school Nordic skiing in the Ford Sayre program. Directing Finding Our Stride, he said, combines his love of creating engaging opportunities for learning with his passion for outdoor activities.

“I’m really proud of the work we’re doing, but especially our emphasis on being welcoming and inclusive and helping kids grow,” he said.

Before COVID-19 interrupted school and athletic routines, the Windsor School and West Windsor’s Albert Bridge School participated in Girls on the Run, a national nonprofit running program for elementary and middle school girls. As athletic schedules returned to normal, Finding Our Stride seemed a better fit for more kids because it was coeducational, Roberts said.

Wednesday’s group was evenly split between girls and boys, ranging from second to fifth grade.

That broad span of age ranges and running abilities can be a challenge, Roberts said.

“Older kids are better at pacing,” she said. “They are able to run longer distances more consistently. The younger kids tend to sprint and walk.”

Last Wednesday, after stretching in the gym and warming up with the game of blindfold-tag, the kids and their coaches spent 20 minutes outside on the high school track either walking, running or a combination of both, as the Windsor football team practiced in the infield.

A pile of soft, multicolored wristbands sat beside the track, and the kids grabbed one for each lap they completed.

The students and their coaches were attentive to distances because some of them are preparing for a running event this weekend.

Finding Our Stride participates each fall in the annual CHaD HERO running and fundraising event, which benefits Dartmouth Health Children’s. The event includes a half-marathon, a 5K run, 5K walk, and a mile “fun run.”

This year, DeFrancis estimates that more than 400 runners from Finding Our Stride, including kids, parents and coaches, will participate in the CHaD HERO, which takes place this Sunday in Hanover. As of Monday afternoon, Finding Our Stride had raised more than $56,000.

Back in the gym on Wednesday afternoon, Fox and Roberts led the group in a stretch and then brought everyone together for a cheer. “R-U-N-N-I-N-G, running is so good for me!”

Christina Dolan can be reached at cdolan@vnews.com or 603-727-3208.