(FORTUNE Magazine) – ON VACATIONS, THE RUOSS ((ROO-oss)) family likes to mix fun with schoolwork. The four Ruoss kids don't go to a regular school -- they are ''home taught.'' Maya, 15, Anya-Maria, 12, Lara, 10, and Tristan, 7, live on a farm in the Ozark Mountains near Fayetteville, Arkansas. Their parents hold classes for them at home every day. Traveling to interesting places is a part of the Ruoss kids' ''schoolwork.'' In 1988, the family drove through Mexico and into Central America so the kids could study geography, Hispanic culture, and the Spanish language. The last lesson the kids expected was a walking lesson. But in Palenque, Mexico, the Ruosses met Ernesto Canto, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist in the 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) race-walk. Ernesto gave them a quick lesson. When the Ruosses returned to Arkansas, they bought a book about race-walking and began practicing. % Race-walking is funny looking. A race-walker must keep one foot in contact with the ground, and the leg bearing his or her weight must be straight. The Ruoss kids began racing in 1989. That year, Anya-Maria won three national age-group titles and Lara won one. In 1990, the four Ruosses won a total of eight U.S. age-group titles! Maya set a national record of 15 minutes 23.7 seconds (15:23.7) for 3,000 meters, and Anya-Maria set a U.S. mark of 7 minutes 5.5 seconds (7:05.5) for 1,500 meters. All four kids also jog and play the piano, and Anya-Maria likes gymnastics. But race-walking is their favorite activity. They sure have put their lesson with Ernesto to good use!