Wareham Middle School students took advantage of the nice weather on Friday by running 12 laps around the track, three miles in total, with motivational music blasting.

Many of them had never attempted to run that far, said physical education teacher Nichole Stahmer, who organized the Readers Become Leaders run. Stahmer said some students weren’t able to participate in the Readers Become Leaders race in October, so she recreated it during school hours so anyone could join in. The race raised money for books, technology and other educational items for the school.

Around 50 kids participated on Friday. Stahmer said running around the track is less intimidating for new runners, since it’s easy to stop and take a break.

“It’s a good introduction to a 5K,” Stahmer said. “It’s not about getting your best time, but just giving it a try.”

She still gave a rousing pep talk before the runners took their marks.

“Running is a mental game,” she said. “It prepares you to be successful in life because it adds clarity and helps you be a better thinker.”

Stahmer told students to try to distract themselves when the run got difficult.

“Lose yourself in a thought,” she said, advising them to think about something they were thankful for with each lap.

In the seventh and eighth grade run, Dylan Turner won first in the boys category with 25:56 and Abigail Bowman won first in the girls category with 26:48. In the fifth and sixth grade group, Brodie Scott and Jackson Veugen were the winners in the boys category at 20:36, and Madison Conner came in first for the girls.