Fun with a run…

On Thursday 20^th December- notice how time flies- Flegg High School held its annual Fun Run. The event held on the last day of term where you would expect pupils to be exhausted after a challenging yet productive year, resulted in at least 300 students competing in this challenge.

The forecast for this typical wintry day was expectantly windy with a skyline of outstretched cloud. Conditions for running I know myself after doing many weeks of cross country for the school, should be moderate sun with light winds- the opposite of the outlook for the Fun Run. However, in a way it would see who could withstand against these spells of misty and generally windy weather.

The PE department, as every day, were very busy. Lessons were going on while the staff sorted out the new route for the Fun Run. Despite their continuous accumulation of jobs that seemed to be piling up just like the stuff in the PE office itself, (!), I managed to chat to Mr Young about his opinion of how things were going.

“The new course presents different challenges,” he stated. “It is much faster but might be difficult for the long distance runners. They will struggle to pick up the fast pace. Mr Scadden thinks he will win!”

Well, all would be revealed. It was now 15 minutes until the actual race. I went around the course so I would know where to run to get pictures in the real thing. One thing that did come to my attention was the fact that there were two filled changing rooms of people that were dressing up in fancy dress- a feature that puts the fun into Fun Run.

People were assembling very quickly after that at the starting point. Mr Hodges explained who he thought was going to win.

“I would put my money on Mr Scadden and Mr Rumsey. They are quite fast, aren’t they?” He pointed out.

Mr Hicks dressed up as a scientist assisted Mr Dark who despite being head of the subject, was dressed up as the joker from Batman. Still, a herd of Dalmatians, some punky school kids, superman, some pirates, and a bunch of fairies provided a colourful display of prepared students at the start of the back field.

The route started, as aforementioned, around the agricultural block. It then progressed around the back playground and continued around the front office. It then followed through the car park, leading around the back of OT’s and on to the new field. From there, it progressed to the back football field and back along the agricultural block. The route then repeated itself but the race terminated at the back of OT’s where Miss Highet and Miss Crawford among many faces were sitting in readiness to take down the scores and hand out the certificates.

The race began and a mass of crowded, running pupils symbolised working ants, in my opinion. Mr Young, which before now I didn’t know was running, was dressed up as a Flintstone. Mr Scadden by the time of half a lap was visibly in first place with eager students chasing him. I made a dash to the OT’s where I could make out Tom Roberts just behind him. The two among a couple others were separated from the main school, which were obviously taking their own pace and determined to at least finish the race. I made out a Batman joker- it must be Mr Dark, who was running with a smile as I made my way to the agricultural block. Many students even stopped to quickly talk to me- I hurried them along!!

Following my visit to the agricultural block to get a few pictures of the progressing race, I made my way up to the finish point where Mr Scadden finally came in.

The overall results of the Fun Run were

1^st: Mr Scadden

2^nd: Tom Roberts- at a time of 8:40 minutes.

Mrs Stockings was the first female teacher to make it back while Zoe Hutson was the first female student to make it back, after a challenging race.

Mr Horsley, despite panting, spoke a few words after the race.

“It was awful-it was really awful.” Well we can’t please everybody!!

Mr Hanner, rather sarcastically I thought, said that it was excellent.

While many students got their breath back, Mr Dark spent some time explaining his point of view.

“I’m quite a good finisher. I’m good at finishing the race. At least I beat Mr Young. At least I beat Mr Young, I’m happy!”

Many students had finished the race and began to get back changed. Some pupils were at OT’s, refreshing themselves after an afternoon of excitement. Even so, there was still a long stretch of a queue at the back of the newly built Sports Hall.

The yearly event raised an amazing £ 1499.79 which will be funded on the new library.

An event enjoyed by all!!!!

Daniel Evans