We ran the Sport Relief Mile!

The boys have been so excited about doing the Sport Relief Mile.  R in particular has been going on and on about it and I thought that he was quite literally going to burst with actual excitement when we got up this morning. 

It all started two years ago, when we went to Stratford upon Avon.  We had been to the park and for a walk and the Sport Relief Mile runners were running through the car park.  The boys were mesmerised and desperately wanted to join in.  We explained that we couldn't do it then, but that it took place every two years and that we could do it next time. 

Two years later and there we were, again in Stratford upon Avon as it is a beautiful place anyway and only about twenty minutes from where we live.  The run takes you along by the river and you get a lovely view of the river and the RSC theatre which has just been completely renovated.

We all got into our sports kit this morning and mummy got a bit stressed trying to find enough safety pins to pin on our all important numbers.  Even A got into the spirit of things in her regulation pink track suit.

The weather was so beautiful today, it really couldn't have been better.  We arrived early and had a play in the park before there was a call for the runners to go and do a warm up.  We all did the warm up and then as we were standing at the start line, someone mentioned that this was the race for the people running three or six miles.  I think that if we had started that race, I would still be doing it now.

When it was time for the mile, we warmed up for a second time and the boys took it all very seriously.  A started to panic as there was a man dressed as a reindeer (although she kept calling him a radiator!) and that was all too much for her.

There was a lovely atmosphere and it was definitely a family event, with loads of parents with children and even mums and dads pushing pushchairs.  A and I decided to walk and we had a lovely time strolling along by the river and having a chat along the way.

There were some other interesting sights along the way; people dressed up in different costumes and one man who was wearing so little, I had to shield A's eyes!  A took a liking to one little girl who was dressed as Kermit the frog.

We took our time and at the end there were loads of people cheering us on through the finish line which was lovely.  We all got a medal and a bottle of water and the children were very proud of their medals and can't wait to take them into school tomorrow to show everyone.

I think the Sports Relief Mile is a fantastic fund raising event.  It gives families a chance to do something and getting children involved in these sorts of events is really positive.  It gave me the chance to talk to the children about other children that are less fortunate than them and encouraged them to do something positive to help.  We raised about £100 and the boys were thrilled.  The added bonus of course is that it gets the children outside and doing some exercise.  They want to do the three mile run in two years time, although I think I will stick to the mile.

I am linking this post up with the Coombe Mill Country Kids linky