A year's worth of running, jogging or walking at recess was celebrated with the Totoket Valley Trotters Color Run on May 4.

Last fall, Totoket Valley Elementary School (TVES) launched the new Trotters program as a recess option for all kids in the town's third grade through fifth grade public school. Program support came from the school's student activity fund and TVES PTO.

"It's about being active at recess and making positive recess choices," program co-founder and TVES fourth grade teacher Karyl Morton told Zip06/The Sound, at the midway point of the program in December 2016. "They work for a goal, and set goals for themselves. We do not tell them that they need to run a certain amount. We're even seeing students who aren't necessarily the most motivated or active students giving at least two laps every time." See the full story here

On Trotter days, kids logged laps on the school playground. If they chose, they could go for the goal of potentially completing a half marathon distance of 13.1 miles or even a full marathon distance of 26.2 miles, by year's end.

As the May 4 Color Run event date approached, some kids were closing in on their long-distance goals.

"We have several students who recently reached half-marathon status, and are now working toward reaching a marathon," said third grade TVES teacher Joe Amodio, who co-founded the program with Morton.

Amodio and Morton found encouraging kids to get moving at recess time was also helping them arrive back in the classroom refreshed and ready to focus. While the difference in the classroom was noticeable to teachers, student interest was sky-high in the Trotter's program, which offered small charms and special days to add incentive to their effort.

"We have approximately 450 students enrolled in our school [and] all students have participated at one point or another during recess this school year," said Amodio.

Trotter Days ran smoothly thanks to parent volunteers who signed up to help, handing out popsicle sticks to every student completing a lap at recess. Seven sticks marked each completed mile and earned kids a charm to add to necklaces that came out on special days in the week.  Extra special holiday-themed Trotter Days, including a Pumpkin Run, Turkey Trot and Jingle Jam helped kids earn a charm for running just one lap. The outdoor program took a break in January and February but came roaring back with a spring season kick-off on March 30.

The May 4 Color Run was a very special Trotter Day, taking place in the late afternoon/early evening to allow not only students, but family members, to join in. Amodio said the family event helped raise funds toward allowing the popular Trotter program to continue into the 2017-18 school year.