A group of La Crosse School District teachers are trying to encourage lifelong fitness by living what they teach.

They showed their students that exercise can be fun - and happen on the weekend - by participating in the annual Oktoberfest Maple Leaf Road Race.

"I think any time kids see us active in outside activities beyond school, it helps," said Bret Emmel, Longfellow Middle School health and wellness teacher, athletic director and coach.

"When we actually walk the walk instead of talking the talk, it is always a good thing," Emmel said.

Jen Schieldt, a Central High School physical education teacher, brought six students to walk with her.

She's hoping more will participate next year.

"I actually started participating because I have two young children and I want to be a role model and get involved in the community and show an active lifestyle," Schieldt said.

"I'd like to do more with the students at Central to give them alternative activities," she said. "Not everyone likes team sports or is part of an organized team. There are other opportunities."

Participating in a benefit walk or run fits students well, allowing them to serve their community and be involved in physical activity, Schieldt said.

Paul Holman committed to being more physically fit. Always active in team sports, the Spence Elementary physical education teacher took up running to be in a triathalon and dropped 40 pounds in the process. He also committed to the Oktoberfest race.

"The only time I ran in high school was because the coach was mad, and being a physical education teacher, I didn't understand running for fun until I did it," he said.

Holman's now able to tell his students it gets easier over time and the pain goes away after awhile.

"I'm still not like an 80-mile-a-week person - never will be," he said.

New options in physical education allow students to look at lifetime activities that don't have to be team sports.

Sometimes they go to Pettibone Park to play Frisbee golf or head to an area course to play nine holes.

Schieldt took advantage of Wednesday's sunny skies to take her students on a hike in Hixon Forest.

They wore pedometers on the "fitness walk" and possibly picked up a life skill to enjoy after graduating.

"I tell them, 'Before you leave my class, I want you to find one activity you will continue with throughout your lifetime,'" Schieldt said.

"You don't have to like basketball. You don't have to like softball, but you have to find something."

Maybe run/walks are that something.