Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Original poster

To not run in the mothers race at sports day!

175 replies

Generallyok · 30/06/2017 10:06

I'm dreading our children's sports day which is coming up next week. My kids desperately want me to run in the mothers race but the thought terrifies me! So many mothers at our school start the day in Lycra and a lot have personal trainers! So just really want to know if anyone else will be running in the mothers race and if not what's the best excuse.

OP posts:

becotide · 30/06/2017 11:27

DON'T DO IT

A few years ago, one of the larger-chested got a bit enthusiastic at the mother's race, and TITTED OUT OF HER TOP.

rIGHT OUT.

nobody has ever forgotton this

Pigflewpast · 30/06/2017 11:28

Flip sandals?? They sound fun! My brain obviously changed it's mind on flip flops!

PacificDogwod · 30/06/2017 11:30

Taking part in the mums' race is not about winning or even doing well, it is about modelling to our children that taking part is fun, that we don't take ourselves too seriously, that not winning is not all that important, that being physically active is a purpose in its own right, that mum is a person as well as a mother.

Oh, I could go on!

Like I said, you don't want to do it, don't.

But if you do, have fun. Your kids will love it, wherever you finish.

WeddingSlut · 30/06/2017 11:32

We don't have a mums' race at our kids' school.

It was banned because it "got too violent"

So my suggestion is to start a brawl, then you won't ever have the dilemma again.

Witchend · 30/06/2017 11:36

Used to make me laugh when they did it at the infant school.
Mums' race would be announced and all the mums would suddenly be disappearing and offering to watch other people's toddlers etc.
Dads' race announced and the dads would start limbering up.
Eventually the head decided that the dads would do a skipping race-with infant sized skipping race, which cooled their competitiveness down.

littlebird7 · 30/06/2017 11:39

I never ever run the mothers race - I tell my children in advance I can't and won't. I feel I am a good example to teach my dds the power of the word no. Just disappear into the loos, take a phone call or just fade away when it comes to the race, but as soon as it has started cheer them all on. Be prepared for other mothers to be cross that they had to do it...

Our mothers race is now no longer after two injuries last year one broke an ankle running in wedges :) the other impaled her foot at the end somehow on someones else running spikes.

Never seen anything so ungainly and revolting as competitive mothers really going for it as if the world was depending on their win. So embarrassing for their kids.

PatMullins · 30/06/2017 11:40

DD was most over the moon I got a sticker for my efforts

littlebird7 · 30/06/2017 11:42

Pacific - seriously it is about having fun? Have you seen the lycra clad spike wearing, headbanded mothers at school, it is ALL about winning make no mistake, there is no sense of fun whatsoever and it is not teaching the children anything but how to try and smoke out the next mother. It is dog eat dog no pun intended :) Fierce!

WinifredAtwellsOtherPiano · 30/06/2017 11:43

You do realise that the object of a 100m running race is to run as fast as you can littlebird? Not quite sure what's revolting or embarrassing about trying to run fast in a running race. Obvs pushing other people out of the way isn't on, and turning up with spikes is a bit odd, but trying your best is part of what you're modelling to your DC.

DownstairsMixUp · 30/06/2017 11:44

I never do it and ds is going to year 3 in september. Some of the mums are very competitive so i let them get on with it!

littlebird7 · 30/06/2017 11:44

I have just had a total hip replacement so have a fair enough excuse this year, you could try that?

Or being eight months pregnant for the day? hee hee!

murphys · 30/06/2017 11:46

Phew, have two teenagers now and thankfully breezed through this issue... i.e. there was no such thing.

If you don't want to do it OP, don't do it. We cannot say yes to every single thing in life. Your dc will get over if it if you do not run.

PinkCosmo · 30/06/2017 11:48

littlebird, but there can be only one winner and yet all the other mums line up and give it their best shot. i think it's a good example to set. I have a son who only competes in what he's good at. He just stubbornly sits out the things he won't win.

littlebird7 · 30/06/2017 11:49

Op - I rest my case with Winifred's reply. It is ALL about winning and no way for fun. It is embarrassing - very embarrassing, hauling along sweaty, red faced, trying to hard look with not enough bra support whilst others look on and laugh...no thanks! (and they are laughing trust me, esp the dads I noticed)

HemanOrSheRa · 30/06/2017 11:49

DP and I did the parents race at DS's nursery. DP pushed me over. I didn't fall on my face and skid across the playground like a twat. No. I was mortified and had to receive first aid for my baddy knees and hands .

Every primary school sports day after that DS would say 'You aren't going to fall over like Nursery Sports Day are you?' Ungrateful little beast. I never did because I took it steady shuffled it'. So steady, in fact that when I kindly offered to run with DS's friends, in a hideous Parent AND Child race, whose parents couldn't be there, they turned me down flat .

DS is in Year 7 at secondary school now. Hallelujah!

jojo2916 · 30/06/2017 11:49

Of course do it you are blessed to be able to

Earlyriser84 · 30/06/2017 11:50

If mums turned up at a kid's sport day kitted out in lycra and proper running gear I think I would just piss myself laughing.

It's a children's sports day FFS not the qualifying rounds for the Olympics.

Just do it and have fun

iwouldgoouttonight · 30/06/2017 11:51

I do occasionally go out for a little waddle run so I didn't feel too worried about doing the parents race. But it turns out that at our school the parents race is done on sodding space hoppers.

Makes for a more level playing field I guess. No adult in the world functions well on a child's space hopper.

EllaElla · 30/06/2017 11:51

becotide that's hysterical

I ran this year - really fancied my chances. It was hypercompetitive. I fell down on uneven ground. Also discovered there are former professional athletes among the mums!

But it taught my child a good lesson in that mummy joined in even though she didn't win and that she wasn't embarrassed to fall down trying. I will do it again next year (but Try Very Hard not to falll down!)

littlebird7 · 30/06/2017 11:51

Pink - my dc have a go at everything, that is what you do when you are kid, but when you are an adult you get to choose. One of the rare beauties of being a grown up, we can choose not to. I endured years of sports days as a kid, I don't need to relive the experience as an adult... not everyone wants to run in front of the whole school no matter how fit they are..

littlebird7 · 30/06/2017 11:53

Iwouldgoouttonight - that is hilarious space hoppers!! I want to come to your school :)

kaytee87 · 30/06/2017 11:56

I really hope I'm able to be at my sons sports days in the future and take part in things like this.
I remember the times my dad came and took part, I was bursting with pride and I have no idea if he won or not.
These are the things that make memories and I'm so glad I have these now that he's terminally ill.
If you're physically able to walk, jog or run then do try to take part.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 30/06/2017 11:56

I just used to blatantly refuse.
I'd have gone flying and been rolling over.

They used to take it really serious.
It's a sports day race. Not the Olympics, ffs

littlebird7 · 30/06/2017 11:56

Yeah and no one ever forgot the mum back in year two who fell over with a skirt on that ended up bunched around her waist - I am not sure I have ever seen her since - so if you are going to do it PLEASE wear jeans and a high neck op...the summer dress and the mothers race are not good companions in my not so worldly experience.

honeylulu · 30/06/2017 11:59

Don't do it. I ran in the parents race (relays) a few weeks after having a baby and weed myself (only a bit, not enough for anyone to notice, but put me off ever participating again).
Lol to "titted right out of her top"!! The stuff of which legends are made

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Swipe left for the next trending thread