Rainbow Rockets Girls Running Club reaches goal, completes marathon

Members of Rainbow Rockets Girls Running Club are all smiles after completing the Rocket City Kids Marathon on Dec. 13. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – They pledged to do it, and then they worked hard to make it happen. The Rainbow Rockets Girls Running Club completed the Rocket City Kids Marathon on Dec. 13.

Rainbow Elementary School teachers Tammy Brunton and Rachel Eubanks organized the club “to promote enthusiasm for running to fifth- and sixth-grade girls. Students interact with peers while developing physical fitness awareness and teamwork skills,” team parent and club supporter Alice Lessmann said.

In September, the 40-member club last competed in the 2014 Autumn Chase Fun Run as the start of their 25.2 logged miles. They needed to compile that distance before running their last mile at the kids’ marathon.

“After long, hard and dedicated training, the girls’ goal to finish running a marathon over the course of 13 weeks was finally accomplished on Dec. 13,” Lessmann said. “The running club’s coaches, Tammy Brunton and Rachel Eubanks, have inspired not only athleticism and self confidence, but discipline as well.”

Becky Ramsey, another parent advocate of the running club, was happy to see close friendship bonds forming within the club. “Not only are these girls working hard as a group every week, but they are having fun, laughing and playing together as well,” Ramsey said.

“It was nice to see them come out as a team to encourage and support each other,” Ramsey said.

The Rainbow Rockets Girls Running Club will take a break for the holidays and “start back strong in January,” Lessman said. “New goals will be set then, which may possibly include a competitive, timed race.”

Brunton believes the girls “are headed in the right direction.”

The running club is open to students in grades K-8, who must run or walk a marathon’s distance (26.2 miles) during 13 weeks.