By Kelly White
Shepard High School is pushing its faculty and staff to stay active during these chilly winter months that often keep people indoors.
Through the implementation of an inaugural SHEPARDTHON, a modification of the Marcothon, a challenge that is popular in the UK where participants run 3 miles or 25 minutes every day during the month of December, employees are doing just that at the high school, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights.
“I’ve been looking for something to get me moving and keep me accountable and I’m glad I can have it with co-workers I see every day,” Marie Cerwin, Assistant Principal of Support Services at Shepard, said.
Tina Holba, Physical Education Teacher at Shepard was responsible for organizing the well-accepted staff program.
“I modified that challenge to be more inclusive and added walking, jogging, and running for 25 consecutive minutes, or 3 miles, which ever came first, every day in December,” Holba said. “It is on the honor system and really is just a way to get staff members to focus on themselves during a month that is typically stressful, full of added calories, and dreary.”
More than 50 staff members actively participated and Holba said that it was very important for people to stay active, and focus on health, this time of year.
“December is always a month that people, especially staff in education are super busy and tend to lose focus on themselves,” Holba said. “We are wrapping things up at work, getting ready for the holidays, going to more parties, eating and drinking more, all in a month that is typically cold and less active to begin with. So, we need to change that script and start putting ourselves first, at least for 25 minutes in order to help our physical and mental wellbeing.”
Students were not involved this year; however, some staff members were seen walking with students when the students needed a break. In the future, Holba may open the program up to include students, as well.
“I love seeing all the staff members out of their classrooms and offices moving throughout the building,” she said. “Students are noticing, other staff members are noticing. It is good to see. It is also great to hear people cheering others on in the hallways.”
Holba also created a Facebook group where staff shared pictures of themselves completing their daily December workouts and cheering each other on which helps motive each other to keep going.
“It makes the holiday season more pleasant knowing that we are focusing on both others and ourselves,” Holba said.
And, her fellow staff members strongly agree.
“Participating in fitness challenges is a way to hold yourself accountable,” Hilary Tully, Health and PE Teacher and Assistant Track Coach at Shepard, said. “I find it hard to consistently work out these days unless there is an accountability factor. I like that the SHEPARDTHON is adaptable. We can adjust our daily workouts based on current fitness level or simply how hard we feel like running or walking each day.”
“Fitness is something I incorporate in my daily life as it is,” Mary Noren, PE Teacher at Shepard, said. “But the winter does seem to be a rough time for people, myself included. So, it’s nice to have not only support through this time, but also accountability too. When I see others posting that they have completed a workout, it inspires me to do the same. And everyone is getting the benefits of exercise to combat the winter blues.”