Checking out the courses
We have definitely spent some years on Cross Country courses so it was a delight to get out #Pemberton way for this #Nairn Falls cross country course for the local primary school students.
An afternoon event that saw @Mindy give us the heads up as she left school, dashed in and changed (it had been "Anything but a backpack and Pyjama Day at school) and bundled us into the car.
What an eye opener. And what a perfect afternoon of clear sunshine to send the kids into the bush.
The best - team warm up was a "hand clapping" game - kids just organised it
None of the tedious organisation, rules and regulations and hoopla of our events. Not an adult in sight wuth a clipboard and pen and certainly no-one with a stopwatch. No tents, no seating, no first aid. No times, PBs, splits or course records. Not even a pie for sale at the venue. Just a carpark full of vehicles and loads of excited kids in their team shirts (with any attire on the bottom half) all independently lining up and taking part.
Check out your course - by grade at school not year of birth
Boys and Girls mixed rock up to the start line
Off you go
Sort yourself out at the finish
Collect your ribbon
Very refreshing. Kids listened for their event. The starter reviewed the course. The bike rider was out in front as the pacer, a gentle "on your marks" and they were off - sometimes with the orange ribbon of the start line wrapped around a couple of the runners.
Best of all was the finish line. No judges. Just a piece of orange tape held in place with a handy little pebble picked up somewhere. Close finishes were worked out by the children themselves - they sprinted in and then lined themselves up in order to collect their appropriate ribbon. No recording. No points. No hoo-ha. Pretty cool actually.
The official finish line - between a rock and a hard place
We wandered from the start line to the finish line and clapped everyone but saved our cheers and words of encouragement for the kids in the teal blue shirts. Loved their team spirit. The finish was up an incline, and this little team was unfailing in its support of their fellow runners. None of their team mates did that finish on their own - was always a cheer squad there to push them home. A very positive team culture developing for @Mindy's school.
I did put my foot in it by asking what happened next after these "pretend" events. The question was clear in my mind - I was looking for progression to districts or zones and something a little more formal - that sort of thing. The response was a puzzled "This is the real thing." Oops.
As per everywhere - this opportunity was provided by a willing band of teachers in their after school time and an enthusiastic group of volunteer parents. Got to meet nearly all in attendance - @Mindy was introducing us to the school community but I think I might need a diagram to make sense of all the connections. Too many people to remember!
It really was fabulous seeing the kids out there, enthusiastic and having a go. A very enjoyable afternoon and I am very pleased to report that all children were accounted for after their run through the forest loop.
I can only imagine how that Risk Assessment would have played out in Australia for an event hosted in possible bear and cougar territory. There were no rolls or start lists, no head count on the start line or at the finish. It seemed as if all that was needed, was, that as a parent, you finished with the same number of children and dogs that you started with - it was all good. Pretty simple when you think about it.
A bucket full of KFC! Finger licking good- literally. (At least we were at home!)
And keeping the cross country feel-good tradition going, we headed for a post-meet KFC celebration. After being warned it was "not the same" as Aussie KFC we were very pleasantly surprised. So good in fact, that with @Mindy's urging, @Mac played up to the "finger licking good" advertising. A definite "Not happy @Jan" moment for me, but they thought it was very funny.
PS Think I have an absolutely new favourite joke - even better than "Ask me if I'm a truck driver."
And here it is, courtesy of @Mindy over KFC:
"What do you call a person who cleans a vacuum cleaner?"
Leaving you to ponder that one .....
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