Cyndi Ralston, an educator at Grant Elementary, recently completed the Bear 100, a 100-mile ultra-marathon through rugged mountain terrain. Ralston noted that it took four years of training, qualifying events, and waiting for a lottery selection to participate in the race.
During the race, Ralston ran through the night in clear weather, accompanied by her coach and her two daughters who served as pacers for portions of the second half. Ralston stated that she performs most of her training during early morning hours while others are sleeping to ensure she is prepared for her professional responsibilities.
The lessons learned from ultra-marathon training are integrated into the classroom at Grant Elementary. Ralston uses running metaphors, such as not stopping on an uphill, to encourage students. She also uses bear preparation as a metaphor to teach students about planning ahead for difficult social situations. Additionally, Ralston helped launch the weekly Yeti Award at the school to celebrate students working toward long-term goals.
Ralston expressed appreciation for the Murray City School District, stating that the district maintains a small-town community feel. She credited Mrs. Burnside at Grant for fostering a supportive community for staff and families. In her personal time, Ralston enjoys crafting stained-glass decorations, weaving Appalachian baskets, and spending time with her grandchildren.
