Beyond the Finish Line:
Creative Ways to Track Your Miles at Little to No Cost!
When beginning the journey to 100 miles, one of the first questions that comes to mind is, “What is the best way to keep track of miles?” While we create the overarching goal of 100 miles, you and your students have the freedom to track those miles in any way you choose. There is no set “best way” to track your miles, simply the best way for you and your group!
Lap sticks
Lap Sticks are a quick, easy, and reusable way to track your student’s laps. Make your sticks unique with either your initials on them, a stamp, or even dyed or painted a distinct color. If you know five laps at your school equals a mile, then five sticks is a mile!
- TIP: This can be adapted into a fun math activity to do with your class!
You could have students turn all sticks in at one time, or keep them until they have enough towards a mile.
Punch Cards/Tally Cards
Similarly to the sticks, punch and tally cards can be just as simple. With punch cards, you have access to our template (Visit Program Resources-Login Required), where you can punch or mark off each student’s card for each mile they run.
For tally cards, this can be any sturdy card with the student’s name, using tallies to keep track of each lap ran.
For either option, feel free to use new colors or punch designs regularly to make it more fun, as well as to keep integrity.
Dots on, Dots off
A favorite amongst students, you can simply use washable or whiteboard markers to record laps on the forearm. (Kids love to show off their dots to their friends!) This option is portable, and there’s nothing to carry while running.
Transferring Laps
You have your laps! You can transfer those miles onto your 100 Mile Club Record Sheet, and keep it displayed in the classroom to watch your students’ progress grow!
A great technological companion to the record sheet is your own personalized Google Sheets or Excel spreadsheet. This can help you calculate each student’s mile count, and keep them organized. You could even link a Google Form to Google Sheets, and input the laps for each student to update your data!
Need Extra Help?
Help is always available, and sometimes all we have to do is ask. You can enlist the help of trusted parents, many of whom are afraid to ask to help but want to. These parents can help update the board, the online spreadsheet, or even hand out sticks or mark laps.
Students could also help, with the position being changed in 1-2 week intervals. This can promote new skills including responsibility, honesty, cooperation, and integrity. For example, if 5 sticks = 1 mile, the student could circulate the room at some point during the day, and collect 5 or 10 sticks from the corner of an individual’s desk, and mark the miles down on a clipboard.
Help is out there, and you can always use as much or as little as you need!
However you choose to track your miles, as long as it works best for you and is enjoyable for the students, that’s what’s most important! 100 Mile Club excels in being adaptable and accessible for everyone, so select the method that suits you and your community best, and start counting those miles!
