Mile-a-thon Challenge

John Kynaston (Active Schools Coordinator Rosshall LC))

Background

The Mile-a-thon challenge was set up to encourage Primary School children to be able to run a marathon over 13 weeks. The basic structure is the children run one supervised mile one lunch time per week and are encouraged to run one mile at home with their parents, friends or relatives.

I work with 5 Primary Schools and all of them have been involved with the challenge for the last 4 years. Each year we have around 500 children taking part.

I try and keep the organisation as simple as possible. I set up a course within the school which normally means running around an area 8-10 times.

At the end of the 13 week we have a mass finale run at Bellahouston Park where all the children who have stayed with the programme run the final mile or more together. Each child who completes the marathon is awarded a special medal.

Timetable

August

I take an assembly in each school with a power point presentation when I challenge the children to sign up for the Mile-a-thon challenge. I emphasise that it is a personal challenge and they need to be willing to stick at it for the 13 weeks.

September-December

Each week the children run one mile at lunchtime and one mile at home.

Early December

Finale run at Bellahouston Park where all five schools come together to complete the challenge and receive a medal paid for by GHA (Glasgow Housing Association)

On the finale run we set the children off in waves from P7 to P4

The children proudly wearing their medals after completing the Mile-a-thon challenge