“Go Go Go”: Christmas Mile Run at Langdon Park

On Wednesday 12^th December, forty ‘Santastic’ runners from Year 3 at Manorfield Primary School joined fitness coaches from local organisation Fit For What and nutritionists from MyTime Active in a very healthy festive celebration. The event, which was also joint organised by Poplar Harca, WellOne, Tower Hamlets Homes, Poplar & Limehouse Health Network and FareShare, saw the year group’s girls take part in a fun run around Langdon Park, before heading to the Teviot Centre to enjoy coconut energy balls and write about why exercise is important to them.

As girls are typically less involved in sports activities at the school, this was a great opportunity for them to have fun together whilst learning about the importance of keeping fit and eating healthily. The whole morning was full of laughter and excitement as the pupils raced around the park in their Santa hats and tucked into their special post-run treats. Family members who had come to watch cheered and clapped on their daughters and sisters from the edge of the track.

One runner, Hayfa, said that her favourite part of the day was trying to run faster than the grown-ups, whilst her friend Zahara added that it was really cool to run with her friends – although her speed had been limited by her shoe falling off mid-sprint…

Carys had completed the race wearing reindeer antlers, whilst her running partner had been a Santa: “I galloped in front of Riima like reindeers do in front of Santa’s sleigh!”  And Nashita summed up why she enjoyed running by saying that it made her feel “free as a bird”.

All in all, the Christmas Mile run was a perfect way to have fun whilst staying healthy in the run up to the Holly-days!