Active Mile Daily Track

The Active Mile Daily Track is a simple way for schools to increase the amount of physical activity undertaken by pupils each day. It encourages pupils to walk, jog or run around a designated tarmac area and is easy to implement with downloadable resources that convert laps into miles. It is a great way to get pupils fit, active and socialising with friends. The initiative has already been adopted by over 3,100 schools worldwide and is an integral part of the Greater Manchester Moving agenda to improve the health, wellbeing and economic prosperity of 2.8 million people across Greater Manchester.

The study was carried out in primary schools in the Stirling council area that had implemented the Daily Mile and one local school that did not currently do the Daily Mile (control). The recruitment strategy was purposive to remove potential differences in educational delivery that could have influenced the results.

The Benefits of a Daily Active Mile Tracking Routine

Teachers were asked about the impact of the Daily Mile and they reported that it increased pupil engagement in lessons by making them more attentive, improved their moods and increased their physical fitness. Teachers also reported that it helped them feel less stressed and tired, and reduced their levels of low back pain.

In addition to the above, the research found that pupils who took part in the Daily Mile demonstrated a significant improvement in their 6-min run test scores, as compared with those who did not do the Daily Mile. The underlying mechanism for this improvement is believed to be an increase in shuttle distance, which correlates with V.O2max, which in turn is associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality.