This class was the first experience that I really had with serious running. Unlike elementary school, sixth grade Gym happened daily, and there were consequences if one did not put in effort. I hated it from the very first day, but the activity I most detested was the mile. Every two weeks, our class would line up outside and run one mile as hard as we could. It was long, exhausting, and embarrassing: I was often the last one trodding up to the finish line while all my peers watched. Eventually, however, my shame got the better of me, and I resolved to improve. By the end of sixth grade, I had dropped more than a minute off my time, and had also found that I had taken a liking to running. The next year, when many of my friends signed up for sports like they had been for years, I took a risk and decided to run Track. Although it was far more arduous than any Gym class, I got the chance to interact with many people that I had never met before, and made many close friends. I still enjoy running to this day, not only for its physical benefits, but for its social and emotional benefits as well.
Here’s a link about the health benefits of running:
http://www.runnersworld.com/health/6-ways-running-improves-your-health?page=single