Pick Your Fun Run: Calendar, Course Profile and Logistics
A classroom session where students research real fun runs in their area, pick the one that best suits their level and interests, and put together a logistics and training plan. They weigh distance, elevation, date, cost, transportation and the event's environmental impact.
How to play
- Introduce the selection criteria: distance, elevation profile, date and training time available, price, accessibility, transportation and sustainability measures (3 min).
- In pairs, search online for three fun runs in the next three months and record each one's details on the worksheet (10 min).
- Each student picks one and justifies the choice based on their current level and the training time available (5 min).
- Logistics plan: how to get there (preferably on foot, by bike or by public transit), what to bring, the day's schedule and a warm-up plan (7 min).
- Quick presentations in groups of four: each student presents their race in one minute and gets one suggestion (5 min).
Rules
- Use only the races' official websites or public agencies' sites.
- Don't enter personal information on any registration site during class.
- The choice must be realistic: if time is short, pick a shorter distance.
Variations
Easier
The teacher provides a list of five preselected races to choose from.
Standard
Students search for three races themselves, justify a choice and plan logistics.
Harder
Add a four-week training plan with two runs per week.
Adaptations
- Wheelchair user: looks for races with a wheelchair category or accessible courses and evaluates their conditions.
- Dyslexia: uses a worksheet with checkboxes and has websites read aloud by the device's screen reader.
- Students who don't want to run: may pick a walking event or volunteer at the chosen race.
Learning goals
- Independently plan participation in a real sporting event.
- Critically analyze race information: course profile, cost and sustainability.
- Connect fitness level with choosing realistic goals.
Equipment for a class of 25
- tablets or phones: 10
- worksheets: 30
Teacher tip
It's a great session for rainy days. If several students pick the same race, encourage them to train for it together and go as a group.
PatioLab has "Pick Your Fun Run: Calendar, Course Profile and Logistics" and 5176 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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