We started this running initiative on the 15th April for 4 weeks. Similarly to last time, each class teacher chooses a famous/well-known capital city in Europe for their class to run to. A list of the capital cities was provided to the teachers also as well as a chart to record the number of laps completed by each student each day! 

 

This time we have decided to really focus on our running techniques however, through the use of the 'Move Well Move Often' programme. This programme really emphasises the correct rules for running and provided the children with an insight into how they run themselves. 

 

Some of the teaching tips for running provided in this programme are:

 

1) Hold the head up, stable and eyes looking forward

2) Elbows bent at 90 degrees

3) Drive arms backwards and forwards vigorously in opposition to the legs. Ensure arms stay close to the body, 90 degree angle remains at the elbow and the drive comes from the shoulders. 

4) High knee lift with the thigh almost parallel to the ground 

 

These teaching points are also on display in our school (see photo below).

 

 

The children ran laps around the pitch or basketball court for 5-10mins each day, starting with Junior Infants right up to 6th class. Once the children reach the landmark, they can choose to run the same distance back to 'our school' before aiming for another landmark somewhere else in Europe, all the while remembering that 1lap = 1km. 

 

As per all the other running initiatives we have completed here in Ballyconnell, the aim is to see how many landmarks in Europe we can visit as a whole school in 4 weeks!! Happy running!!