Childhood Part I
Hi everyone,
A few weeks ago I spent a weekend racing. I don't mean horse racing or even racing cars - I mean running. Together with my goddaughter and her sister, I took part in the "Race for Life" - a 5km fun run to raise money for Cancer Research. You may remember that last year Dani wrote a blog about the colour pink: well, this was a charity event that only women could take part in and everyone was encouraged to wear pink.
I use the term "racing" quite loosely. Although Chelsey ran all the way (she took 29 minutes!), Kerrie and I alternated between walking, jogging and running. This was partly because I'm not fit enough to run all the way ;-) and partly because there were so many people taking part that most of the time it wasn't possible to run.
Of course the main aim of the event was not just to have fun, but also to raise money for Cancer Research. We were very pleased that between the three of us we raised over £500!
Earlier on the same weekend I took part in another kind of race. This time it was only about 100m and involved a potato! Perhaps I should explain. "Sports Days" are very common during the summer term at schools in the UK. At secondary schools (that's children aged 11-16 or 18) these are usually serious affairs. The events will be proper athletic events - running, javelin, discus, long jump and so on. At primary school, where the pupils are younger, the events will be more fun. Things like a 3 legged race - where two children have one leg tied to the other person so that they have to run as if they have 3 legs.
Then there's the sack race - children have to stand inside a sack and jump to the end of the race. So, a few Fridays ago, I was able to relive my childhood. We had a sports evening for all the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides in our area -and at the very end of the evening there was a race especially for leaders. Normally this race would involve an egg and spoon. You have to carry an egg (usually hard boiled, or it gets very messy) on a spoon and race down a course. Fortunately, we decided that potatoes would be better and cheaper, so instead of an egg-and-spoon race, we had a potato-and-spoon race. Now you probably don't know this about me, but I'm very competitive and so I was standing at the start line, one leg forward, just waiting for the whistle to blow...and I was off. I'm not sure whether I jumped the gun but there was no-one near me until the last 5 metres - so I pushed that extra bit -and guess what I won! Honestly, it felt like I had won Olympic gold!! I'm not sure I ever won any races at sports days as child, so it was really nice to revert to my childhood - even if it was only for a couple of hours.
If you had the chance to go back to your childhood, what would you like to do?
Take care
Carrie
fun run: a non competitive race - usually to raise money for charity
hard boiled: a hard boiled egg is an egg that has been cooked in it's shell in boiling water until the yolk and white are completely solid
to jump the gun : to do something before the proper time - in this case to start runiing before the whistle had been blown
Comments
Hi .. the idea was very good to join the funny activities with a very good couse that is to help the reaserch on the cancer..there something like this in são paulo, its name is cancer in the target of the fashion, where the t-shirts are sold, this t-shirts are in white with one target in front of it. the people walk in the ibirabuera park in SP..Why just weman can take part in it?? why pink?? thanks..
Hi Carrie! How nice to read your blogs again! If I had the chance to go back to my childhood, I´d like to be in my uncle´s backyard where there was guava trees and my cousins and I used to climb the trees and eat the fruits while we´re seeing the sunset. It was so fun! I´m looking forward to reading your next blog. All the best, Ana Paula.
I never did this kind of races in my chilhood . Usually these activities were activities to do in summer camps and when I was child my parents coudn´t send me to one of them . But I remember that we spent a lot of time in the countryside and there with my brother and other children we used to catch little fishes with a bottle and crayfishes too . Sometimes at nigth, we ligthed a bonfire and all of us sang some popular songs seated around it . But I think that if I could to try with a race to raise money for any fair cause , like you did, I didn´t doubt and I took part in it . It was a very nice gesture !
Oh dear!!! It sounds that you really had a whale of a time. I didn't know that you were so sporty :-) Congratulations for winning the race! By the way, your god-daugther and her sister are beautiful. If I had a chance to go back to my childhood I would go to my grandparent's island and played with my cousin Claudia. Have a nice day and keep on enjoying yourself. You are definetely an example of life. See you, Cris
Hello Carrie! I have always admired spoon race because it's very challenging to balance the egg on the spoon all the way you reach the stopping line. If I had the chance to go back to my childhood I would love to participate in the sports at schoold 'cause I wasn't really good at sports as a child so always get away with it. Best wishes, Naheed
Hello Carrie Congratulation!!It is so fun to read yor blog! I really enjoy it:).And I remember also the egg and the potato from the childhood:)We must not stop playing and laughing and have fun.You seems to be a good example Take care and have a nice day:) Best whishes Aslaug
Hi Carrie, I didn't take part in a race, in my town this kind of races are so rarely...if i had the opportunity to go back to my childhood I would go to the seaside with my parents and cousins, there we had a very funny time..we spent a lot of time doing sand castles, and playing in water..how beautiful are those memories..best wishes, Michela
Dear Carrie! Have a nice day! I was pleased to read about your successful racing. Carrie, Chelsey and Kerrie, congratulations on raising so much money for the charity! If I had the chance to go back to my childhood, I would like to go back to my village where I grew up. In those days there were just a few cars on the street and I used to play hopscotch and badminton with my friends there. How nice it was to paddle with bare feet in puddles after a warm summer rain. I am looking forward to your next note. Take care!
Hello, Carrie! That is so cool but you did not explain how you raised the money for charity. was it from people who watched the race ?Congratulation for your winning. looking forward part2
hi there you are so good comppettiter and ambtion i really appriciate all you have done, for me if i can go back to my childhood i would to do things that i never do with my family such as to go camping. i am looking forward to you lovely note. take care!
GOOD ARTICLE BUT I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE WORD RUNIING?
I am absolutely unathletic. I admire you, because you took part on a race. The company, which I work for, is sponsoring the KOMEN Race for the Cure (breast cancer) every year in Frankfurt/Main. I think there are these Races in many cities worldwide. Until now I am not interested in this race, because first I am absolutely unathletic and second Frankfurt/Main is several hundred kilometers far away from my home. This year first time I read a lot about the Komen Race, about breast cancer and about projects initiate by KOMEN Union. So I decided I will train and I will be running for a really good object. Maybe next year? ;-)
Hello Carrie! I did not believe you were a competitive person. It is not a bad quality though. PE is an underestimated subject over here and we do not have this kind of activities. If I turned back, I would play outdoor games more often. Have a good day!!
