Thinking Allowed: The way we run

Last week I was fortunate to get to watch half my children run in a race as it was time for the yearly cross country carnival at school. I like these sporting events put on by schools but I think that not all the children enjoy them. If you never really run, having to run 2 kilometers can be physically exhausting. Which makes me realize we should have the same fitness standards for adults. Perhaps every year each Australian workplace should be required to put on athletics carnival. The government employees can shed their starched layers for a day or two and run 5 km, and race in swimming events, and show off their shot put skills. I will write a letter to the prime minister.

Meanwhile, suffice it to say that my children were fortunate to have beautiful weather for their run. I came with a book and sat in the sunshine in the grass of the oval to spectate. Here is what I saw.

Tova was very excited for her race. She has never really run longer distances but her teacher told her to start really slow and then speed up at the end and she took it to heart. She started at the back of the pack jogging very lightly with a huge smile pasted on her face. Her smile never wavered throughout the race. As she was the youngest age group (and the youngest child in the age group!) she had to run 1 kilometer. By lap two she had sped up a little bit but her smile had not gotten any smaller. Halfway through lap three she was still smiling at the world and had slowly and steadily moved to second. As she passed I said 'Tova this is where you can run faster'. And then she doubled her speed, still smiling, and came in first place. She was very pleased. I asked her if she was tired and she said 'not a bit'. Hmmm guess this child can run.

Sophia walked into the oval wearing her warmest winter jacket, holding her friends hand, and deep in conversation. She stopped her conversation briefly to wave back at me. She too smiled the entire race. She ran side by side with her friend at a slow but steady pace. Their age group had two kilometers to run. Though it didn't looks like Sophia was tired, halfway through it was apparent that her friend was struggling. Sophia stuck by her side. At the last 100 meters Sophia decided it was time to sprint. She easily doubled her speed. Then she realized her friend was physically unable to sprint at this point so she turned around, went back to her friend's side, and finished the race at a slow steady pace next to her friend. She did not place at all but she was thrilled anyhow and was clearly a winner in my books.

Meanwhile during all this Aurora had left school for the morning to take on a different sort of challenge - climate change. I do hope others are paying attention to the way our children run and listen to what they have to say. I for one learned a lot about human spirit watching the children race.