By PETER DOUGLAS
UPWEY High School took on the region’s favourite steam locomotive over the weekend.
In a fantastic show of perseverance and camaraderie, a student-teacher team from the school participated in the Great Train Race through the Dandenong Ranges.
Physical education teacher, Peter Castillo, has organised the event over the past six years, which he said had been enormously well-received.
Mr Castillo said the students gained plenty from the initiative.
“It’s about starting a life-long association with fitness,” he said.
“Not only do we inspire the younger students, but parents often join in, too.
“Once we get over the line, we all go through our stories, our triumphs and defeats, but it’s great for building camaraderie.”
Participation is part of the school’s extra-curricular commitment to education, with other outside involvements including projects such as volleyball.
As part of the race, the students also learn about nutrition and cardio-health.
Due to the distance, the students mostly come from senior years.
Mr Castillo said he was pleased with his own performance, even if it’s a little slower these days.
“I’m 54 now, so the personal best times are 10 years ago,” he said.
“I’ve done this the past few years, but the train seems to be catching up with me.”
In the lead-up to the big race, the students had trained for more than two months.
But as if racing Puffing Billy over 13 kilometres wasn’t tough enough, the students now have to back-up for a cross-country carnival next week.
