Students and families of Woodward Elementary School reached their finish line on April 6.

The Mustang running club completed its progressive marathon at the “Hit the Streets for Hunger” 1-mile and 5-kilometer race earlier this month.

One of the morning’s highlights came courtesy of Woodward principal Sherrie Jamero, who ran the 5K with a running club student at her side.

Those that completed the progressive marathon – a 26.2-mile journey spread out over several months – were rewarded with a special medal, provided by the Regal Signs and the Reed family.

Unlike a traditional marathon, when miles are logged in sequence with little or no pause, the progressive marathon allowed coordinator Michelle Crippen and the Woodward staff to space out the miles.

They logged a majority of their miles on Mondays and Thursdays after school, turning laps around the campus’ buildings, playground and athletic fields. With each completed mile, Crippen would award the student or family member with a small toe token.

On April 6, many of them traded those tokens in for a medal and green ribbon.

Crippen said about half of the club’s members were able to participate in the road race hosted by the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Those that couldn’t complete the progressive marathon on April 6 finished their mileage at school.

“So fun to see so many Woodward families running the one mile or 5K race together,” Crippen wrote in an e-mail to The Bulletin.