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GREENSBORO – Students in Guilford County are taking on the challenge of training for a 5K with the help of the GO FAR Program.

Third, fourth and fifth graders at Peeler Elementary have spent the past few weeks running lap after lap to prepare.

"GO FAR stands for 'Go Out For a Run,' and it's aimed at getting children in grades three through five prepared to run a 5k race on May 1," GO FAR coordinator Jo Strack said. "The program itself is 10 weeks. So they train for 10 weeks, twice a week."

And students say they're already feeling the impact.

"Since the training has been going on, I've been feeling more confident about it," fifth grade student Ethan McGee said.

The students don't just learn about running and exercise, they also learn about eating healthy.

"Well, I think it goes along great with what Michelle Obama is pushing in terms of getting a reign on childhood obesity. For example, we had one parent today just tell me his child has lost 4-and-a-half pounds since he started GO FAR. So I think the timing is right on and the kids are all for it and we've gotten a great response from the parents as well," Strack said.

Students were a little skeptical about taking on a 5K run at first. But now the goal is coming into focus.

"Well at first I was thinking I'm probably going to have to stop and keep on stopping," fifth grade student Ansen Eldred said. "But now I think we can probably run the whole thing."

"That's going to be really tough, but if you have a good attitude and you can remember all this stuff you've been doing at practice, then you can be able to make it," Willie Jones, a fifth grader, said.

The GO FAR 5K race will be held May 1. Organizers expect around 1,000 people to participate.