Colin Phillips doesn’t necessarily care that running can improve his heart or that it’s considered good exercise.

But twice a week, the 12-year-old reports early to Quail Run School to run, jog and walk with his buddies in the school’s track club.

Four girls participate in the Quail Run School's running club. Students in the club come to school 30 minutes before classes begin and then run or walk a course, usually outside.

“I like it because I get to run with my friends,” he said after completing a 1.4-mile run last week.

About 80 Quail Run fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders are in the club. They’ve been running on trails near the school, 1130 Inverness Drive, since the program started in early April.

“We have to give kids a little nudge to get them to do more things to be physically fit,” said Barb Heeb, a nurse and parent of two Quail Run students.

She started the parent-operated running program after seeing the documentary “Super Size Me,” which examines why so many Americans are overweight. The school used to have a running program, Heeb said, but it was canceled about three years ago because of budget cuts.

“This is an opportunity for kids to get and learn the benefits of exercise,” she said. “It gives them chances to set short-term and long-term goals.”

Students around the state could soon be following Quail Run’s example.

Jodi Mackey, director of child nutrition and wellness for the Kansas State Department of Education, said last week that state education officials currently were working on wellness policies to improve the health of their students.

Nikki McGrew, left, and Serena O'Connor, right, both 12, gather with other students before school in the Quail Run School gym.

All schools in the National School Lunch Program are required to establish a local school-wellness policy by the 2006 school year. The requirement came with Congress’ reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, which oversees school meal programs.

Mackey said schools and school districts would be able to control their wellness policies, with some assistance from the state.

“We hope to have a draft ready by mid-May and post it on our Web site for feedback,” Mackey said. “In June, we’re going to have meetings across the state about the proposed policies, and hopefully we’ll go to the state board for approval early next school year.”

Students participate in the school's track club, which has students coming in 30 minutes before school two days a week and then running or walking a course, usually outside.

Many students running Thursday at Quail Run found the morning exercise helpful.

“It helps wake you up,” said Abby Casady, 9.

6News video: Running club encourages students to start healthy habits (04-29-05)

But Abby and others said the main reason why they joined the club was to be with their friends.

“I think most of them enjoy being with each other,” Heeb said of the young runners, “and if they can associate exercise with something positive, then that’s great.”