The adventure began in September with a challenge to think, not just outside the box, but outside the valley.

Their valley.

Their comfort zone.

Could they, a group of preteens with no distance running background — let alone running shoes — train hard enough to tackle a 5-kilometer course? The same hilly, potentially muddy, offroad course that some of the world’s elite trail runners had navigated just minutes before?

It was, in a word, scary. Not only have the Nanaikapono Elementary School students embraced those fears, they have built on the confidence of conquering them. All the lessons learned during their Program for Afterschool Literacy Support (PALS) since September will be put to the test Sunday with what could be considered a final exam: The 5K race of the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship.

For many of the 16 fourth- through sixth-graders, the 38.3-mile bus ride to Kualoa Ranch will seem like traveling to the other side of the globe, not just the other side of Oahu.

"A lot of them haven’t never left this coast, they’ve stayed on this side," said Karin Finnerty, a teacher at the Nanakuli school the past eight years. "PALS provides out-of-school experiences and we chose to focus on fitness. We wanted the kids to lead healthy lifestyles but also impact their community and lead by example.

"I was training for the XTERRA, doing the 21K (half-marathon). We said, ‘We should take the kids, too.’"

More than 50 students signed up for the PALS program but, because of the 8-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio dictated, the number was dropped to 16. Finnerty and Kevin Eiker, the school’s Health and Wellness Program teacher, began training in September.

Enthusiasm was no issue. Proper running shoes, however, was.

"It was not good, or safe," Eiker said. "A lot of them were running barefoot or in slippers."

A request for funds was submitted to and approved by the Office of Equity, Excellence and Diversity at the University of Hawaii, which funds PALS. Each student had a budget of $55 to purchase shoes.

The ensuing field trip to the nearby Sports Authority was another educational experience with the students learning about various types of shoes as well as proper fit and size from the store’s staff.

As for color, it was a personal choice. Sixth-graders and best friends Katelynn Magno and Pu’uolena Sylva opted for matching pairs — black with purple trim — because it was their favorite colors.

"I think it makes a difference to have proper running shoes," said Shirlina Roberts, a sixth grader and the school president. "These have gel cushions and they’re better to run in. It makes it funner."

The shoes are kept in Eiker’s office and only worn at school, training or not. After each use, the students return them in store-bought condition, cleaning them, Finnerty said, and appreciating something others might take for granted.

"This was the first time some of them have had real shoes, ones that were the right size or ones that weren’t handed down," Eiker said. "Seeing this happen … wow, we said, this is something good.

"And they know it’s something special to even take on this challenge. They know that no one in the (80-year) history of Nanaikapono has ever done something like this. They believe they can do it. We’ve told them, ‘We’re going on an adventure, a 3-mile hike. You can run, you can walk, you can stay together or go on your own. The main thing is to finish and have fun.’ "

Sixth-grader Chaz Gouveia is ready.

"We know we have to persevere," he said. "It’s going to be hard but we’re going to push through it and not give up."

"They have a lot of pride in their school, a lot of pride in the whole valley," Finnerty said. "They’ll wear their school jerseys to let everyone know they’re from Nanakuli.

"They’ll bring back what they learn and continue promoting fitness and a healthy lifestyle in their community."