Published 31 December 2023
This is a contingency for when the rugby fields at Leos are unsuitable for any training.
This session is suitable for a maximum of 16 children and requires a minimum of 8 parents
- All children should be at least school year 5
- At least 4 of the parents must be capable of running with the children
- At least 2 cars will be needed at Alwoodley Primary School
- Everyone (children and parents) needs hi-vis, ideally yellow
The session consists of
- jog on the pavements from Leos to St Paul’s P.S. (point 1 on map)
- steady jog on the cycle path from St Paul’s towards Alwoodley P.S. and back as a recce (from point 1 to point 4 and back)
- several out-and-back runs on the cycle path with a rest in between each one
- jog from St Paul’s to Alwoodley P.S. (point 5)
- steady jog of Deanswood Drive / Boundary Farm Road / Cranmer Bank / Cranmer Rise as a recce (5/6/7/8/5)
- several laps of Deanswood Drive / Boundary Farm Road / Cranmer Bank / Cranmer Rise with rest in between each one
- jog on the pavements from Alwoodley P.S. back to Leos
The detail
- Meet at Leos at 5:25pm indoors in the changing rooms
- Briefing to all parents and children
- Hand out hi-vis to those who don’t have it … including jackets for parents
- Identify the 4 or more parents who will run with the children
- Ensure at least 4 of these have torches
- Identify the 2 or more parents who will drive
- Split the children into two sub-groups of no more than 8. Split by speed and/or age
- Allocate two parents to each sub-group
- I will carry a first aid kit
- Parents who are driving
- Ensure at least one has a first aid kit
- Drive to point 5 on map – postcode LS17 5HX. NB go to the elliptical roundabout near the park-and-ride and take the exit opposite the park-and-ride
- On arrival, spread out to cover marshalling points 1/2/3/4
- Advise walkers to use the footpath not the cyclepath
- Advise cyclists to take a lot of care
- The 2 sub-groups jog from Leos to St Pauls (point 1)
- set torches on in Leos car park
- parents at the front and back of each sub-group
- juniors not allowed to overtake the leading parent
- jog along Crag Lane to car park
- jog from car park along cycle path to “bridge” over stream
- then to St Paul’s
- at each road crossing wait till whole of the sub-group is together
- At St Paul’s
- Everyone advised that they must not run on the footpath nor must they block the footpath while waiting at St Paul’s
- Recce – All children and all running parents jog to point 4 (or possibly only to 3 if there is a big puddle on the cyclepath) and back
- First sub-group then does out-and-back run, the first runner arriving at 4 (or 3) should shout “Turn” and every one runs back. First sub-group moves out of the way to recover
- Ditto for second sub-group
- Repeat for first and second sub-groups.
- Possibly repeat again
- Jog (on the cycle path) en masse to Alwoodley P.S. (point 5)
- At Alwoodley P.S.
- Parents from 1/2/3/4 get in position at 5/6/7/8
- Everyone advised that they must run on the footpaths for the next section
- Recce – All children and all running parents jog round the square – 5-6-7-8-5, noting obstacles, slippery corners, etc
- First sub-group then does steady lap
- A minute or so later, second sub-group does steady lap
- First sub-group arrives back at 5, has rest, sets off on faster lap
- A minute or so later, second sub-group does faster lap
- First sub-group arrives back at 5, has rest, optionally sets off on steady lap (some can wait at 5)
- A minute or so later, second sub-group does optional steady lap
- Recover
- Anyone unable to run back (injured or exhausted) can travel back in a parent’s car
- Then return to Leos in sub-groups
- Parent at front and rear
- Wait at each road crossing
- Torches on for cycle path on Alwoodley Green and for Crag Lane
- Stretches in front of Leos clubhouse
I have about 10 hi-vis running bibs – most are brand new and if you want one to keep, it will cost just £5
For our trials of these sessions (12 December and 2 January) I have only invited parents (and their children) who have regularly been leading groups at Leos this year (a) to thank you and (b) to gain experience to enable us to devolve to two groups next time we need to do this.