APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – With her laces tied up, Appleton North High School Spanish teacher Paula Meyer set out on a mission.
“I started running to my students’ houses probably, well in March, because we weren’t meeting in person anymore,” Meyer told FOX 11.
She’s an avid runner, and her races were canceled this spring because of COVID-19.
So, Meyer decided to make her own routes for three half marathons — going past her students’ homes on the way.
“I miss them. I think we all miss them.”
Her purple gym shoes have gone far. Forty miles since March.
Meyer likes to keep an element of surprise. She doesn’t tell the kids when she will be running past their house.
Sometimes kids meet her outside to say hello, or leave her water.
“I am no wonder woman. I’m just somebody that’s determined to put one foot in front of the other until I finish,” Meyer said.
She hopes it’s something her students remember.
“I want them to believe that they can, that they can do whatever they set their minds to.”
Morgan Roes’ senior year isn’t going how she expected.
“It is definitely rough. I’m trying to make the best of it.”
But Señora Meyer has helped.
“Getting to see that she’s still here and I still get to be with her sort of even though these are some weird times is really nice.”
Her sister Bailey agrees.
“It makes you feel special because she’s running by you and leaving you a nice little message. So it was really cool.”
Maybe Bailey will pick up running as a hobby. That’s something Meyer would be thrilled to hear.
“I’m 50-something and they think they’re one foot in the grave and I’m not. I’m healthy, I can do these things. And there’s all sorts of events out there that they can participate in, and I just want to encourage them to do that.”
Meyer says now that she’s already done three half-marathons, she’ll continue to run past students’ homes if they’re interested.
She’s made it by 35 to 40 students’ homes during the pandemic.
