To not run in the mothers race at sports day!

[Generallyok]

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.

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

Ah, but nobody can force me to join in with that level of stoopid competitiveness - it takes somebody to be the court jester and show the lycra clad mob up for what they are: inadequates

ok, fair enough. I don't get it. I don't mind running and losing. But I don't seem to exceed at anything else so I suppose a run is no different. And at least that's enjoyable.

Trying your best is entirely compatible with having fun and not minding losing. Someone who is running as fast as they can (without falling over) but is genuinely in it for fun looks just like someone who desperately cares about winning for some mad reason, they both look like someone who is running their fastest, up to the point where the race ends at which point the genuinely keen need to work hard on their "good loser" face if they are not to be busted.

I knew each year that I was going to lose - I was half a foot shorter than the opposition. And I didn't give a toss about that, because it's a primary school parents race and I am a professional systems analyst rather than a sportswoman. But I still ran as fast as I could because signalling "I'm only losing because I'm too cool to try" is actually not a great look.

I came last, I still ran the following year. My ds said he was proud of me. He isn't overly sporty either and I feel it's worth demonstrating that it's about taking part and having fun, winning isn't important.

Fuck it, cheer from the sidelines whilst digging into the picnic and wine.

It's ok, I took on the Lycra mob and won.
If I can do it, you can. My tits hurt to fuck though and I am small of boob.

Did I mention I won?

My kids changed schools last September so thank God it wasn't on this year. It was last year at old school. Husband and wife team ran and won both their respective races. Both times they did a little celebratory dance routine they had obviously done many times before. Made me go 'wow'. I didn't do it, but then my bladder and bowel are falling out a bit so good excuse.

I used to do athletics competitively. I'd be asked not to do it, I think. I'm always a bit too embarrassingly keen to show off that I've 'still got it'

I wouldn't be liking anything involving beanbags or hoops, or sack races! Oh no!

I came second last year to the general amazement of all. Despite being obese I am surprisingly nippy over short distances. Obviously the lyca clad herd could have gone on for miles whilst I collapsed at the finish and could barely walk the next day.

Fortunately my dc's schools haven't had mothers' races so nobody has had to witness me 'running'. I only pick up my knees for bona fide emergencies.

Pink - if we had a whole group of mothers like you it would be fun to race and all done in the spirit it is intended.

Alas not in our school where they have been training for several months in advance putting at elite runner to shame...

Well done Pat! A moment in time your family will never forget :)

Haha. The ones at the front may take it seriously. The ones at the back stop and laugh with their mates when they fall over! Fun for all!

littlebird7 they probably won't forget the state of me after, no

I did the family race at my sister's sports day last year. She was in year 7 (didn't think they would do it in secondary school!).
She asked me if I'd run. I didn't think it was a good idea because she has so many problems at school (bullying etc) and I didn't want to embarrass her. I did in the end.

It had been raining and I slipped in a big patch of wet mud, fell flat on my face. I just kind of stayed on the floor until a large group of first aiders came running up to me asking if they needed to call 999

I wasn't hurt, everyone laughed, including myself and when I got up, she was stood with a large group of girls giggling. She said it was the only time she ever felt like she 'fitted in' and has spent a whole year thanking me for falling

Sports day again next week! Sadly for her, she has an appointment, so we miss out this year!

I am a competitive runner.

I also run in the Mothers' race. I don't wear trainers or lycra, I either wear my Sainsbury's TU All Stars, or just take my shoes off. I run as fast as I can, why wouldn't I? It's my thing, my kids are proud of me.

I've had parents tell me they're not going to enter if I do. What should I do? Not run it? Run it but not as fast as I can?

Don't do it OP. Parents'races at dd's school got ridiculously competitive, people turned up in full running gear the lot. It also got a bit narky as well. Now it's much more good humoured as the HT comes up with "fun" races each year to make those taking part look stupid space hoppers/mini trikes/plates of jelly/dressing up/ apple bobbing etc stops anyone taking it too seriously and makes anyone choosing not to take part look perfectly reasonable

You have some options here op. You could start bribing the small children now to tie some shoelaces together, perhaps? Stuff a cushion down your jumper and pretend to be up the duff? Get to the start, scream 'What's that!!!' with a dramatic point then sprint off in the confusion? Or wear sunglasses, light a cigarette in a holder, put on a Russian accent and drawl 'Daaaaaaarlink... I don't do running...'

The parent races have been stopped at our school after an ambulance was called last year due to a nasty leg injury

I'm crying laughing at some of these bonkers stories. Fences being knocked over? Running spikes?!

I hope DS' new school has a parents' race so I can experience this for myself.

I did it when DD1 was in nursery.
It was a skipping race
I won.
(Secretly ridiculously pleased as hideously competitive)
This year I asked my daughter if she remembered the proud moment when Mummy won.

She replied that she enjoyed the ham sandwich she ate that day

Am never doing it again.

Go for it OP, I did it, came last and my kids found it completely hilarious. I did it mainly because DD always comes last but she always enters into the spirit of it all and does it with a big smile. I just thought if she can do that so can I.

I still remember my Dad coming last is the Dad's race at primary school (sense a theme) but I remember feeling proud that he did it for us.

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

For a running race my response would be a firm "No". I like running but it brings back horrible humiliating memories of school PE lessons and sports days I'm afraid. I appreciate those saying it's the taking part that matters and it's good for children to see that in their parents. But I also think it's a valuable lesson for them to see you can say no to things you really don't want to do. That you shouldnt feel pressured.

I'd only get stuck in if the race was going to make everyone look silly, eg space hoppers (love them!), plates of jelly or mini trikes. Or something out of It's a Knockout (like running in sumo suits)

Rightsofwomen, that's truly shocking. Not entering because you know that Jane's mum is a really good runner and will win is the very definition of taking it waaaay too seriously.

I don't run in the teachers race! Seen too many accidents to keep count including broken leg and jaw!