[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11534]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          IN HONOR OF THE JUST RUN PROGRAM OF MONTEREY COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 15, 2006

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the Just Run program of 
Monterey County that has been a collaboration of the Big Sur 
International Marathon as well as other local organizations.
  Designed to assist school and other youth organizations in providing 
vital fitness programs to youth in Monterey County, Just Run is a group 
running program that teaches children activity, fitness principles, 
goal setting, and physical development with the help of teachers and 
parent volunteers.
  This program engages local fitness and running experts, such as 
future Olympic runners from the Big Sur Distance Project, to work with 
students at free on-site clinics and serve as role models and 
motivators. In conjunction with running and physical activity, the 
program also promotes good citizenship and good deeds by emphasizing a 
drug-free and healthy active lifestyle. In a time when it has become so 
easy for children to make unhealthy choices, this program is a much 
needed reminder to our kids of the importance of fitness.
  I also want to highlight Just Run's involvement in supporting the new 
initiative in Monterey County called HELP (Healthy Eating Lifestyle 
Principles) that works towards including more healthy fruit and 
vegetables in school lunch programs as well as an increased role for 
physical activity in school. The Central Coast is an ideal area for the 
implementation of this policy because of the abundance of fresh produce 
cultivated within the 17th district. Students learn that eating fresh 
fruits and vegetables, in addition to participating in the Just Run 
program are both steps in the right direction to fostering a healthier 
lifestyle.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the Just Run program and its affiliates for 
their outstanding work whose benefits will be reaped throughout our 
community.

                          ____________________