By Khalida Sarwari
Two former Stanford University running stars will speak to about 300 middle school students in San Jose today about the importance of education, health and fitness.
Lindsay Allen, a 2008 Stanford graduate, and Brett Gotcher, who graduated in 2007, will give Burnett Middle School students a talk with the theme “sound mind, sound body,” focused on the power of education and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, San Jose Unified School District spokeswoman Karen Fuqua said.
“When it comes from role models, and closer to the student’s age, it connects much more with them than having a teacher say it to them or their P.E. coach,” Fuqua said.
Allen and Gotcher, who both competed in track and field at Stanford, will encourage students to participate with them in the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day.
San Jose Councilman Sam Liccardo will introduce the running stars at today’s event, slated to begin at 1 p.m. at Burnett Middle School, 850 North Second St.