It's cross-country running season at the moment and I was reading a race report a week or so ago, which described cross country as “...the ultimate test of resilience and determination”
Dramatic language for a nice jog around a field in the fresh air, but I can see where they're coming from!
It also happens to be “Children's Mental Health Week” and whilst I don't like jumping on all of these special day and week bandwagons, the link got me thinking…
Why oh why do we build cross country up into this huge, horrible, beastly, terrible thing, almost like it's a form of punishment? The horror stories parents relay to each other of their own cross country running experience and how much they hated it;
“It was minus 17 (plus the windchill), I nearly got frostbite, they made us run about 10 miles and we were beaten with sticks if we stopped”
“I hate cross country”
“Thomas hates cross country”
“Theodora hates cross country”
Do they, or have they just heard you say it?
Even if you don't tell them these things directly (though I know some do), the kids pick it up. They talk about it amongst themselves. They play up to it. They want to be the same. They think that's “normal”
Is it any surprise they develop mysterious illnesses: are they making them up or is it nerves?
Will their parents write them a note to excuse them?
Isn't it time for us to encourage and normalise challenges - physical or mental - rather than avoid them?
And cross-country running is both.
> Yes, it might be a bit cold, but once you're running you'll soon warm up
> Yes, you might get out of breath, but our lungs and cardiovascular system are designed to do this
> Yes, your legs might hurt a bit when you run up the hill, but guess what? They'll soon recover
> Yes, you might get a bit muddy
> Yes, you might doubt whether you can make it all the way round or not, but when you do, you'll feel proud of yourself (and next time it'll be easier)
> Yes, it might be uncomfortable for a few minutes - and in reality it really is only a few minutes - but you'll then experience what endorphins feel like. Learning that now and how to create them is a priceless gift for the rest of your life
If your child can't run for 10 minutes, there's a problem, and there will be a bigger one in 5, 10, 20 or 30 years, which needs addressing NOW
If we want to build mental health and fitness, resilience and determination in the next generation we have to encourage them to step out of their comfort zones regularly, whether that's on the playing fields, in the class room or up on a stage, otherwise we're part of the problem.
We should set an example too - when's the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone?
Maybe now's the time to take on a challenge yourself…
