On September 11, ISSH’s youngest cross country members gathered in the gym for their first ever Little Symbas Cross Country Boot Camp and Games. The sessions are open to all junior school students and led by high schoolers from the official Symbas Cross Country team.

During the hour-long session, the Little Symbas athletes enthusiastically participated in all tasks, sprinting lengths of the gym, racing each other, and completing various obstacle courses. In upcoming sessions, the club aims to incorporate relay racing, tag games, and some longer jogs such as the 800 meter course, which ISSH students recognise as the “Jesus Run”.

Despite the possibly intimidating phrase “Boot Camp” embedded in the club’s title, students find that it is, in fact, lively and fun to exercise alongside older Symbas runners.

The club aims to not only supply an amusing, weekly energy output for their younger fellow athletes, but also to raise money for ISSH’s representative athletes. The money collected will help fund the annual Far East Cross Country meet in Guam in which 7 of ISSH’s fastest high school long distance runners participate.
Mr. Bowler, ISSH cross country coach, expects that, for the older students, earning part of the funds for their trip to Guam will not only be empowering and rewarding, but also valuable, as they gain a sense of connection with the younger girls. He described the club as “double reaching out and serving — having a fun event for kids and raising money for the Far East trip.”

The boot camp will continue on for five more sessions on Fridays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., until October 9.

The club is still welcoming new runners in grades 1-4 to join the sessions.

(If your junior school daughter is interested in joining, contact Mr. Bowler directly at [email protected].)