Thomas Bailey was off, his long blonde hair swept back by the wind rushing past his reddened face.
Running as fast as his three-year-old legs could carry him, Thomas and his classmates at Mountaineer Montessori School followed a group of University of Charleston students who've been teaching them fundamental running and jogging skills over the last seven weeks.
"They always look up to people who are taller," said Nancy Johnston, Mountaineer Montessori's art and physical education teacher.
The grade schoolers have been working with 19 UC students taking a first-year experience class that requires community outreach every spring. Hallie Dunlap, a social sciences professor who teaches the students training with Mountaineer Montessori, said her students wanted to so something that would benefit the surrounding community. The two schools are separated only by a few streets.
The partnership will culminate on Saturday as trainers and trainees compete in the UC Welch Colleague Half Marathon and 5k. But working together has been more about fostering health habits.
"There's a mentoring aspect as well," Dunlap said.
Montessori students have responded, too. Dunlap said they have been persistent, enthusiastically running in cold weather and during spring break.
"I think they're excited to see us," she said.
UC students have enjoyed running as well.
Brian Gray, a freshman studying biology, said helping the students has been fun.
David O'Leary, a freshman studying sports business, said seeing the young runners' enthusiasm pushes him to be a better runner. Gray and O'Leary both are on UC's track team.
Like they do four times every week, the students on Thursday ran five laps behind Riggleman Hall, which is about two miles total.
After the first few laps, most of the students were visibly fatigued, though they pressed on. Thursday was the last day of training for Saturday's race.
Getting ready for a 5k in only a few weeks is difficult, but the students have come a long way since they started training earlier this semester, Johnston said.
When they started running seven weeks ago, students ran for one minute at a time. Eventually, they added another minute. Now, many are running the full two miles.
"They've improved their endurance, and they're able to keep up," she said.
Most importantly, she added, "They're not complaining as much."
Running is good exercise, Johnston said. She said her students have been running in gym class since she started teaching at Mountaineer Montessori 20 years ago.
"They always run," she said. "It gets their energy out."
She said her students, since they started training for the 5k, are more focused and relaxed in their classes.
All first-year experience students are required to develop and implement a community outreach plan, Dunlap said. She said this has been one of the most fun she's participated in.
The half marathon and 5k students will run in is part of a learning experience for students, who plan and organize the event.
The races are mostly flat courses through neighborhoods along the Kanawha River. The half marathon and 5k will start Saturday on campus at 8 and 8:15 a.m., respectively.
Online registration for the races will remain open until noon Friday. Race day registration, however, will be available.
Reach Samuel Speciale at sam.speciale@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-7939 or follow @samueljspeciale on Twitter.