MONROE - The Monroe High School cross country team's practice Wednesday had two purposes - get a workout while performing a random act of kindness.
Forty-three athletes in seven groups with four to six athletes in each could be seen running across town and performing good deeds.
Monroe junior Andy Johnson, sophomore D.J. Gersbach, freshman Brennan Shelton, freshman Kyle Legler, junior Zeke Frankford and sophomore Brock Bertalot ran about three miles and stopped to complete some cleaning at the Monroe Public Library. The six athletes spent 40 minutes cleaning chairs, bookcases, tables and computer screens.
"It felt good to be a part of something bigger than yourself," Shelton said. "We thought it would really help the community."
Monroe seniors Isabel Bazley and Kayla Einbeck along with juniors Jordan Hirsbrunner and Stephanie Sanft ran about three miles, and they stopped at Monroe Middle School to thank teachers for everything they do for students. They then ran back to the high school and posted motivational messages on sticky notes on teachers' cars and on athletes' lockers for various fall sports teams.
"It was a fun way to get a workout in and do something nice for the community," Einbeck said.
Monroe cross country coach Dave Hirsbrunner and his wife Cory Hirsbrunner, the Monroe school district superintendent, came up with the idea of mixing running with random acts of kindness, what they called a ROK run, in the summer.
"We really didn't plan it to take pressure off conference," Dave Hirsbrunner said. "It just was a great time to fit into our schedule. As coaches we are fortunate to not only have some top athletes, but just top-notch kids as people. It sure makes coaching fun and enjoyable. In the daily grind of my job, getting to be around this group of kids after school is one of my favorite parts of my day."
Bazley was a proponent of the ROK run and the difference it made.
"It was really fun to do it," Bazley said. "It always makes me feel good to do something more for the community."
Monroe freshman Lauren Hlubek, freshman Elise Smith, junior Baylie Engels, sophomore Allison O'Brien, sophomore Kati Symons and sophomore Mya Waterman purchased flowers and handed them out to various people walking during their run.
"You could tell that it made them smile and happy," Hlubek said. "I think it was a good idea."
Monroe senior Thang Lu, junior Nick Baumann, junior Ryan Peterson, junior Josh Smith and sophomore Dylan Scace completed a 41â"2 mile run, and they picked up trash and righted tipped-over garbage cans around the Square. They also swept leaves and filled up dog bowls.
"It (the Square) gets a lot of traffic," Baumann said. "It could always use a freshening up."
Smith enjoyed the community- and team-building aspects of the run.
"We felt a lot more accomplished," Smith said. "We felt like we were making a difference in the community."
Forty-three athletes in seven groups with four to six athletes in each could be seen running across town and performing good deeds.
Monroe junior Andy Johnson, sophomore D.J. Gersbach, freshman Brennan Shelton, freshman Kyle Legler, junior Zeke Frankford and sophomore Brock Bertalot ran about three miles and stopped to complete some cleaning at the Monroe Public Library. The six athletes spent 40 minutes cleaning chairs, bookcases, tables and computer screens.
"It felt good to be a part of something bigger than yourself," Shelton said. "We thought it would really help the community."
Monroe seniors Isabel Bazley and Kayla Einbeck along with juniors Jordan Hirsbrunner and Stephanie Sanft ran about three miles, and they stopped at Monroe Middle School to thank teachers for everything they do for students. They then ran back to the high school and posted motivational messages on sticky notes on teachers' cars and on athletes' lockers for various fall sports teams.
"It was a fun way to get a workout in and do something nice for the community," Einbeck said.
Monroe cross country coach Dave Hirsbrunner and his wife Cory Hirsbrunner, the Monroe school district superintendent, came up with the idea of mixing running with random acts of kindness, what they called a ROK run, in the summer.
"We really didn't plan it to take pressure off conference," Dave Hirsbrunner said. "It just was a great time to fit into our schedule. As coaches we are fortunate to not only have some top athletes, but just top-notch kids as people. It sure makes coaching fun and enjoyable. In the daily grind of my job, getting to be around this group of kids after school is one of my favorite parts of my day."
Bazley was a proponent of the ROK run and the difference it made.
"It was really fun to do it," Bazley said. "It always makes me feel good to do something more for the community."
Monroe freshman Lauren Hlubek, freshman Elise Smith, junior Baylie Engels, sophomore Allison O'Brien, sophomore Kati Symons and sophomore Mya Waterman purchased flowers and handed them out to various people walking during their run.
"You could tell that it made them smile and happy," Hlubek said. "I think it was a good idea."
Monroe senior Thang Lu, junior Nick Baumann, junior Ryan Peterson, junior Josh Smith and sophomore Dylan Scace completed a 41â"2 mile run, and they picked up trash and righted tipped-over garbage cans around the Square. They also swept leaves and filled up dog bowls.
"It (the Square) gets a lot of traffic," Baumann said. "It could always use a freshening up."
Smith enjoyed the community- and team-building aspects of the run.
"We felt a lot more accomplished," Smith said. "We felt like we were making a difference in the community."
