On April 10, for the second year, OHS students and teachers had the opportunity to run a half marathon through a program called “Students on the Go.”

OHS students in the program started their training in the middle of November. They ran right after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and had longer-distance runs on Saturday mornings at Forest Park.

Teachers Mr. Bill Ebert and Ms. Laura Bishop “coached” the Students on the Go program for the second year and also participated in the half marathon. Although running is an independent sport, the coaches were there to inform students about training days, the Forest Park long-distance runs, and the half-marathon itself.

This year, several teachers signed up to train for the half marathon. Some of the teachers who participated were Bill Ebert, Laura Bishop, Kelsey Tunze, Jackie Neeley, Matthew Thomas, and Christina Whelehon.

A total of 294 students with the program ran at this particular half marathon. OHS students Magalie Thauvette (11) and Nick Durham (11) got the fastest times from Oakville. Thauvette finished in first place for females in Students on the Go with a time of 1:40:00 and Durham finished in seventh place in males in Students on the Go with 1:39:00.

It was not only experienced runners who participated. Liz Vancil (12) ran with Students on the Go for the first time this year.

“I would do it again because it was a great experience,” Vancil said. “Everyone was so encouraging and helped push each other when it got tough.”