"The weather was absolutely beautiful," said event co-coordinator Janet Brenner. Brenner said the Jogathon had almost been cancelled several times in the days before the event due to possible rain, but that didn't have to happen.

More than 900 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders did laps around the Redwood field, raising an estimated $50,000 to $60,000. The money will go to the Saratoga Education Foundation, which funds various programs and staff positions at Redwood: a counselor and a social and emotional learning curriculum; a librarian and media support technician; stipends for team leaders; a visual arts aide; tech support and computer maintenance; and teacher support. The foundation also funds such things at the other schools in the Saratoga Union School District.

The March 21 event was turned into a school-wide party, with a DJ blaring high-energy music over loudspeakers, free Popsicles offered to sweaty and tired participants and water fights to alleviate the heat.

Dogs even joined in the walk, as teachers brought their canine companions and allowed students to hold onto their leashes.

"It's a fun thing. The kids like to get outside," Brenner said.

The teachers were also glad to get out of their classrooms and spend some time in the sunshine, added Assistant Principal Beth Polito. "The kids were very well-behaved. Our biggest problem was water fights," Polito said.

Organizers cordoned off the Redwood field, and as students completed an entire lap, volunteers punched holes on their lap cards. Three boys set records, running 36 laps in the two hours.

One of those top runners was sixth-grader Justin Winningham, who said he wanted to run the most simply because he wanted to beat his friends.

"I took the inside line of the track the entire time and it made it shorter," Winningham said, adding that he walked the curves in the route. "I didn't really talk to many people. I just ran."

Seventh-graders Adam Prewett and Ryan Palmer ran their 36 laps together. "I ran a lot, and I was happy to contribute to school charity," Prewett said. According to Prewett, he walked 30 laps in last year's Jogathon and was hoping to jog the entire course this year.

"We wanted to do a lot more than that, actually," Palmer said, but there wasn't enough time. Palmer said he and Prewett were both tired at the end and ate Popsicles to cool off.

The second-highest distance covered was by Mike Marshall, who clocked in with 33 laps.

Initially the foundation's goal was to raise $45,000, but foundation members hoped for more so that the organization could help fund more positions and programs that were being eliminated due to education budget cuts. Alice Chiou, parent volunteer and co-coordinator, said it was suggested that each student raise $75, in contrast to last year's $50 per person.

Brenner said the school district's financial situation did put some added pressure on the Jogathon, which hopefully will raise enough extra money to pay for a staff position that is slated for layoffs.

"We're just trying to put a dent in the problem," Brenner said. "But our community's pretty responsive. We're very encouraged."

"Anytime you're doing an event with over 900 kids and upwards of 100 adults, it's a huge effort," Polito said. But Polito is grateful for the hard work of organizers Brenner, Chiou, Angela Farmer and Sharmila Kumar. "The parents do so much," Polito said, and her own role was to "support them and work with the teachers to make sure the communication is clear."

In the days preceding the event, Polito said, a group met to determine if it was appropriate to proceed, given the onset of war. All agreed to go ahead with the Jogathon, however, and opened the afternoon with a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and comments to support U.S. troops in Iraq.

In coming weeks, students must turn in the money that they raised. Classes with 90 percent student participation in the Jogathon will be rewarded with a Krispy Kreme doughnut party.