Presidential fitness challenge

[Trimbandit]

Yes, kids should have something to reach for. They get soft when so little is expected of them. Heck, we all do.

The concern I have is that since the challenge was gone for so long it will be a big change and some folks will be opposed to that. Then they will likely have some easy out to prevent them from experiencing a little discomfort.

 

[adamm88]

I think its a good thing, I remember doing this in school, I believe the mile run for Gold standard or whatever it was call was like 6 1/2 minute.

 

[longtail]

At the risk of being called fluffy, do you actually interact with people? Everyone I know with kids is having to go to sports practices almost daily and traveling hours to complete isn't out of the norm. Far more competitive than the past

This does make me think about the whole picture a little more and in a lot of ways there are way more opportunities and kids/parents are specializing way more but most of those parents and kids are the ones that would already be involved and what will help with the testing in school is hopefully with all of the kids across the board. It should help with the percentage of kids that do absolutely nothing physical to get them thinking about how there physical health is important in life.

 

[*zap*]

I remember when RFK walked out of the ag's office and did a 50 miler in 20 hours.

 

[omicron1792]

I still have a picture of me getting the award in around 2nd grade. Glad they brought it back.

 

[average]

If we were in person, you would phrase the question differently.

Less than 5% of kids compete at anything meaningful. I played d1 in college. Coached my kids, at their desire, as far as they chose to go. After, we competed at life... work, sports, games, anything. The problem with society today is people suck but they think they deserve something just for breathing air. Make kids learn how to lose.... and strive for better. That's how we advance as a species and a society. Competitive society is good for everyone.

Yes, your abrasive tone should be met with similar. I was a d1 athlete as well, years later being able to shoot a great a double leg doesn't help me much day to day. We seem to live in different worlds. I see a world where technology has allowed even the nerds and fluffy kids to be competitive at something. This helps them build many of the life skills I got from training and competing. I don't see much of the "entitlement" unless the TV is telling me about it. I'd love to live in a world of fit people. I have no problem promoting fitness, but if that's the only meaningful thing in the your world I find that strange

 

[*zap*]

If you do not take care of your body-where are you going to live?
Fitness is #1 in my world.

 

[Laramie]

Yes, your abrasive tone should be met with similar. I was a d1 athlete as well, years later being able to shoot a great a double leg doesn't help me much day to day. We seem to live in different worlds. I see a world where technology has allowed even the nerds and fluffy kids to be competitive at something. This helps them build many of the life skills I got from training and competing. I don't see much of the "entitlement" unless the TV is telling me about it. I'd love to live in a world of fit people. I have no problem promoting fitness, but if that's the only meaningful thing in the your world I find that strange

Where do you live that you don't see the entitlement? Our society is weak and getting weaker. Me bitching on here won't fix it but that doesn't mean I should accept it. Without diving into politics, it's pretty tough to discuss.

On a side note, my abrasive initial message wasn't directed at anyone in particular. Yours was. I'll stand by my tone.

 

[JFK]

I’m for it. I still remember doing it and running my fastest miles I’ve ever ran simply to see what I could do. We had a ex marine PE teacher who would tell the students that if you had any pride at all, you’d do the best you can. Good words to live by.

 

[MuleyFever]

Competitive society is good for everyone.

A respectful competitive society sure, but we have also forgotten how to be respectful, in general.

 

[*zap*]

Societal breakdown in the first world countries is inevitable, Russia may be the exception.
Good luck to all.....

 

[Jason Snyder]

I think it’s largely a good thing.

The bashing on younger generations is as predictable as death and taxes. I guess it’s all in your perspective. I work daily with age groups ranging from boomers to Gen Z. You’d be hard pressed to convince me there is any significant difference across the groups. They are just different.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I did it in middle school and highschool so 1992-1998. I’m glad they are bringing it back. I’ve seen what PE classes look like these days compared to what they were in the past. We actually used to run a mile and do pushups, sit-ups and pull-ups before getting to play basketball and floor hockey, flag football etc.

 

[Poser]

Counterpoint: I read that the Presidential Fitness Test ran from the 1950s-2012 and was just brought back.

From 1980 to 2008, obesity prevalence among adults rose from 13.4% to 34.3%, and among children from 5% to 17%.

Based on those statistics, maybe we need to come up with something better?

 

[Yoder]

The amount of obese children is so crazy. I think this is a great idea. Even more important is the GARBAGE food they feed kids in schools. School lunches in most schools are an abomination. In a great country like ours, with the ridiculous school taxes, kids should get a decent meal and anyone who can't afford it should get it reduced or free. Most of the problem is parents but this could help.

 

[LostArra]

Soon there will be prep classes available for the physical fitness test.

I remember the tests in the 60's. It was fun. The coaches found some hidden athletes but it took away from dodgeball time.

Every generation is different.
John Colter, Kit Carson and Jim Bridger probably thought their grandkids were pampered wimps.

 

[mtwarden]

I remember when RFK walked out of the ag's office and did a 50 miler in 20 hours.

This was a really cool thing. It started way back with Teddy Roosevelt, concerned with the fitness level of the military. He instructed his Marine officers to be able to complete 50 miles of hiking in 20 hours. When TR was out of office, it went by the wayside.

It was over 50 years later when JFK, also concerned with the fitness of all Americans, discovered the old memo that TR had sent to the Marines.

The challenge was picked up by the media and military and civilian folks started giving it a go. Boy Scouts and other groups started organizing 50 mile hikes around the country.

There still is an annual organized hike

https://www.jfk50mile.org/

More on the history of the challenge

https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/fitness/take-trjfk-50-mile-challenge/

 

[jahaze]

I thought the goal was to be as fit as the President...I bet I can beat him in a Big Mac challenge, I can slam a bunch of those things


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[Tower13]

Back from a 22 year hiatus is the presidential fitness challenge for kids.
I vaguely remember doing it in school all those years ago.
This isn't intended to start a fight or point political fingers. I just want to know peoples thoughts on the return of this challenge.

To me it seems like a step in the right direction. I think there is value in that measurement not necessarily on a person to person basis but measure a kids progress from year to year.

It was a fun experience and remember doing my best to get the patch. I think its a great idea but I don't know how it will go over with the youth of today. I don't think to many of them are into fitness now a days. I haven't seen many kids outside playing over the last decade. They are inside doing the video game thing.

 

[Poser]

The amount of obese children is so crazy. I think this is a great idea. Even more important is the GARBAGE food they feed kids in schools. School lunches in most schools are an abomination. In a great country like ours, with the ridiculous school taxes, kids should get a decent meal and anyone who can't afford it should get it reduced or free. Most of the problem is parents but this could help.

Very true. and, what is baffling, is numerous celebrity chefs/food experts such as Bobby Flay , Jamie Oliver and Rachel Ray have demonstrated that this can be reasonably achieved within a budget and yet we still continue down the same road. Jamie Oliver did a whole series on it called "Food Revolution." The current admin cut school lunch budgets back even more in March of this year. Doesn't seem that there is any foreseeable future where this situation improves.