Why do so many adults fall over during the parents race

[Theseers]

Genuine question

There were around 5 dads races (6 dads in each). In 4 races a dad fell over

There were at least 8 mums races. I lost count of the number who fell over.

It’s less than 100m of dry flat grass. Why as an adult can’t you run 100m without falling over? Baffling

I very nearly did last year!

It felt like my top half was going faster than the bottom half somehow.

The only cardio I do is swimming and using the cross trainer so running really isn't something I've done since I was a kid and seemingly invincible.

You're right they do fall, sometimes spectacularly awkwardly. I remember the daily fail reporting on one race where a lady fell and her skirt went over her head. Mortifying. Also if they are in sacks and it's two of them in sacks, the chances of them staying upright is slim especially after a wine.

I haven't ever taken part, so I suppose you could say they are more fun than I am. I sit on the bench and think thank God it's not me.

Edit the sack bit isn't meant to sound sexual.

"They stopped the parent races after a dad broke his wrist in 4 places and needed emergency surgery (he didn't stop and ran into a wall)."

🤣 what an idiot. Only one Dad down this year at ours and he did an impressive style out into a double forward roll

wet and/or too long grass.

🤣🤣🤣

One of DHs friends broke a bone in his kids sports day race.

Its a thing.

I remember mums falling. I do remember a few dads who were over competitive and fell or similar. After a particularly bad one they tried changing to an egg and spoon race - one dad threw his egg over the line and tried to claim that as a win. After that they did the sack race with child sized sacks which was very funny to watch but difficult to get enough speed up to be dangerous.🤣

But I used to play tennis as a junior competitively. I then didn't play for around 10-15 years before I took it up again. The first time I played, I took the biggest fall I've ever had and basically the reason was my brain thought I was still 21 and could get to that ball, but my legs knew I was nearly 40.
So I'd guess similar reasons.

I think its a mix of those in unsuitable shoes (the minority, because only the very unsporty would try to run on grass in shoes with an unsuitable sole)

And the insanely competitive who realise they can't win so decide to do something "funny" instead.

Very few will be out-of-the-blue accidents.

School discontinued the event, after extreme bad feeling and a dad found to be wearing spikes.

They had a teachers race instead

Not at all. It's the children who make their parents run. They then laugh when they fall!

Because they aren't used to running.

🙄

This.

Only ever the Dads in our races, we just do flat runs the length of the field and I assume it's speed, they're trying to go faster than their legs actually move and trip over their feet. Or another Dad veers into them

I would not be ‘made’ to run by my children.

Gosh, I’ve never heard of parents taking part in sports day. It didn’t happen at my DC’s school.

At our school there track isn't completely level. There's a slight dip halfway along across a couple of the lanes. It isn't very noticeable to the eye, but from experience you definitely feel it when running full pelt. Lots of parents fall there.

Twenty years ago at my daughter's school, one mum surpassed herself. Having chosen to wear a boob tube and participate in the mums' race, she (not surprisingly) popped out the top of it. More surprisingly, she tucked herself back in and continued to run. She then popped out of her top a second time and just clutched her boobs till she crossed the line. The dads declared it the best sports day ever...

Then why do it at all? Unlike the children forced to participate by the teachers, there's nothing forcing the parents.

I always liked the mums race and joined in because I had been a sprinter many years ago but also regularly played hockey at the time so I was used to sprinting still. Most other mums either hadn't run properly since the last years race or were fit and used to running but not sprinting and there is a world of difference between the two.

We weren't allowed to race.
Had to do a stupid fast walk balancing a bean bag on our heads.
I was ready to run in trainers too. Pah.

Our school doesn't have a proper sports day, just a sort of vaguely physical activities day with no parents invited. I'd love to go to a traditional one! Sounds hilarious.

I don't remember the mums and dads falling over at my primary school but I do remember that my mum always won the mums' race and how proud I was!

We don’t have parents races thank goodness - and who are these drunk people at Sports Day? Maybe I’ve missed something all these years but it’s never struck me that people were or had been drinking!

It felt like my top half was going faster than the bottom half somehow

This comment has really amused me for some reason. Trying to imagine it.

The worst I've seen is a dad who was so far ahead he turned round to finish running backwards (show off) and slammed into a wall!

It was an inner city school, no field but a concrete 'yard'.

I think at ours it was because the lanes were wide enough for children, but tight for adults and there was a lot of jostling, particularly from the men.

They stopped it here after a woman fractured a small bone in her neck. And a Dad broke an elbow. The woman fell forward and sort of rolled in a very awkward head stand type flip. She was in a huge amount of pain. The dad was being competitive and tried to dive over the line, landing badly.