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Original poster

Why do so many adults fall over during the parents race

68 replies

Theseers · 13/07/2024 09:01

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

OP posts:

IamaRevenant · 13/07/2024 11:22

MargaretThursday · 13/07/2024 09:54

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.

@MargaretThursday reminds me of my dad, he used to always put his thumb over the egg to keep it on the spoon so he could run faster. He nearly fell a few times as he sprinted on ahead 😆

I agree with you and PP, the falls are mostly people being overcompetitive. Pretty silly amongst all these grown adults at a kids' race!

ShowOfHands · 13/07/2024 11:22

AtomicBlondeRose · 13/07/2024 11:15

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!

I found out on here that some PTAs sell wine at sports day!

Saw it only once irl at a local private school my friend's DC attended.

WombatCowgirl · 13/07/2024 11:27

@Crunchymum this exact thing happened at my sons' school. If I said near the Abbey would it be correct? There were also children in tears and wetting themselves during their own races because alpha male dads were shouting not to let them down.

Crunchymum · 13/07/2024 11:31

WombatCowgirl · 13/07/2024 11:27

This was about 7 years ago (my eldest was in Reception) and near the Abbey doesn't mean anything. But it's horrible to know its happened elsewhere 😕

Thankfully our uber competitive parents saved it for the races against each other.

AtomicBlondeRose · 13/07/2024 11:36

ShowOfHands · 13/07/2024 11:22

I found out on here that some PTAs sell wine at sports day!

Saw it only once irl at a local private school my friend's DC attended.

Show quote history

Wow - seems like a recipe for disaster tbh. The tea and coffee stall at ours does a brisk trade! I have however lobbied for a bar at the interval evening musical performances and the teachers were pretty keen (especially as many of them live in walking distance of school!)

Shitandrun · 13/07/2024 11:53

Wine at sports day?! My dc's school is in a very deprived area. Drunk parents at sports day would be absolute carnage.

Mairzydotes · 13/07/2024 12:28

They haven't warmed up prior to running.

Topsy44 · 13/07/2024 12:50

OldTinHat · 13/07/2024 09:26

Because they're super competitive and forget that they're not super fit and young anymore, so over exert and face plant the ground.

I know this was the case for me! I did the Mums race when my daughter was about 7 and in my head I was the fast sprinter that I used to be at school and although I don’t show it I am competitive.

Unfortunately my late 40s body decided not to co-operate with my brain and had other ideas. I just about kept myself upright. Thankfully my DD found it quite comical that I had come last😀.

littleapplecottage · 13/07/2024 14:23

ShowOfHands · 13/07/2024 11:21

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.

Jesus! Sounds like the start of Saving Private Ryan!

AmelieTaylor · 13/07/2024 14:50

Cestfoutu · 13/07/2024 10:49

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...

@Cestfoutu 🤣🤣

AmelieTaylor · 13/07/2024 14:53

Emdubz70 · 13/07/2024 11:20

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.

@Emdubz70

Have you never felt like that??

when I used to be able to run a bit, I often felt like that. Legs just couldn't keep up with my head!

Thislittlekitten · 13/07/2024 15:06

This is a thing at our school too and I suspect it will be cancelled after this year.

There is been falls and minor injuries over the years but this year one dad suffered a horrific potentially life altering injury. This was outside in a wide field.

BlowDryRat · 13/07/2024 15:25

...dad found to be wearing spikes.

😂brilliant. What a muppet.

Universalsnail · 13/07/2024 15:54

Running in the wrong shoes. Everyone fell in our races were because they were trying to run in sandals or flip flops instead of taking them off and running barefoot.

Emdubz70 · 13/07/2024 18:07

AmelieTaylor · 13/07/2024 14:53

@Emdubz70

Have you never felt like that??

when I used to be able to run a bit, I often felt like that. Legs just couldn't keep up with my head!

Show quote history

I’ve honestly not 😂
But next time I jog I’m going to evaluate myself!

AtomicBlondeRose · 13/07/2024 18:32

Thislittlekitten · 13/07/2024 15:06

This is a thing at our school too and I suspect it will be cancelled after this year.

There is been falls and minor injuries over the years but this year one dad suffered a horrific potentially life altering injury. This was outside in a wide field.

I mean, poor guy, but…how? (Actually don’t need gory details but I’m just boggling at how this occurs on a flat field in broad daylight etc).

Thislittlekitten · 13/07/2024 19:05

@AtomicBlondeRose I agree with so many here. I think it is competitiveness at our school amongst a group of dads. Plus generally not doing this type of exercise on a normal basis.

It was shocking and sure it would be very unfortunate to happen again but it happened.

123dogdog · 13/07/2024 20:31

One sports day (nearly 20 years ago) there was a dads race and a guy, tripped or slipped or something (I was 10 or 11, so my recollection is a wee bit hazy) and he tore one hamstring and I think badly injured the other hamstring (could have been two torn ones). That’s the only sports day memory I have, apart the fact I absolutely hated sports day.

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