College Street Normal School held their annual Cross Country at Dransfield farm on Friday the 1st of May.
CSNS has had it there for a number of years and they choose it so the children don’t have to run on a straight, plain field. The race was 3 km, and only Yr 3-6 competed. Parents, friends and family are also welcome to come and watch. If you place in the top 5, you get to go to interschool, which is another cross country but for all of Palmerston North’s primary school’s. If you place 6th, 7th, or 8th, you’re a reserve.
The Wait
While the kids wait for their race, they have to sit on a colossal blue tarpaulin with their bags.
They also have the option to eat their lunch. They chat to their friends and usually play games to pass the time. They wait for their race, and once it’s finished, they have to wait for everyone else to finish theirs.
The Warmup
Before their race, pupils have to do a quick warm up by going up and down a small hill and loosening their joints and the tension in their muscles. Exercises like grape vines, arm circles, high knees, star jumps, burpees, squats and a whole lot more, really help.
The Race
The race is 3 km (as said before) and differs in size depending on the age groups. It is made up of hills, ditches, puddles and lots and lots of mud! The pupils fought to win 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in their age division. You nearly always fall over in the mud, as quite a lot of people have been through it before you, so it makes it extra hard.
The Aftermath
After they have finished their race, the children go over to the barbeque and grab a free sausage, which is provided by the PTA. Children munch on their sausages and then have the option to get changed into warmer, dryer and cleaner clothes. Then once everyone has finished, one of the teachers congratulates everyone who came (friends, family, parents, running rabbits, and teachers) and took their time to come and cheer on all the pupils.
Then all the kids and teachers jump on the bus and head back to school.
Cross Country is a busy day with highs and lows where all participant are pushed to their limits.