Off to a running start

While physical education in schools teaches valuable skills, James Wright (pictured) finds it odd that children are never really taught how to run.

“PE lessons normally focus on learning skills to play games. But running is something that can really benefit you with just a little bit of coaching, yet it’s not always treated as a skill you can learn.

“Being able to run for a reasonable time and distance is really achievable and attainable for most of us.”

As the Run and Become coordinator for Wellington-based community organisation Nuku Ora (previously known as Sport Wellington), James is tasked with getting kids excited about being active and ready to participate in Brendan Foot Supersite Round the Bays.

Now in its third year, the MAS-supported Run and Become programme provides free entry and transport to the annual 6.5km fun walk/run for 375 children, and a parent or caregiver, as well as t-shirts to run in and a medal to celebrate their achievement.

While this year’s Brendan Foot Supersite Round the Bays will now be taking place as a virtual event due to the pandemic, Run and Become can still set kids up for fit and active lives.

Making exercise fun

Originally from the UK, James worked as a geography teacher before emigrating to New Zealand in 2021 with his wife, a GP working in asthma research. His role combines his love of being active with his experience making exercise fun and accessible.

“I’d done a lot of work with the PE department at my school back in the UK, helping get kids excited and engaged with being active. I especially wanted to keep working with kids from lower-decile schools, so this opportunity really cried out to me.”

In his role at Run and Become, James spends time in schools in the Wellington region, helping them get ready to participate in Round the Bays. This includes sharing fun games that can help kids get more active without any special equipment, teaching them about nutrition and how to prepare for the big day and creating training programmes to get them ready to tackle the 6.5km event.

The multiplier effect

Being part of an event like Round the Bays can be a real trigger for kids to become more active, and students are often keen to return year after year, says James.

“Kids think, wow, I never would’ve thought I could run that far. Next year I’m going to do it again or do it faster or bring someone else with me.”

“The benefits of being active are massive, and we’re still learning more about them. The mental health aspect is coming into focus, and it’s about time too. What exercise does for people’s mindset and mental health is proven.

“Kids have so much energy, and energy needs spending. It can be spent either positively or negatively, and when kids are cooped up and frustrated, energy can come out in ways that it doesn’t need to. But if you’ve got that release in the form of exercise and if that exercise can be fun and become a habit, that benefits everyone.”