Get on Track
PAULA RADCLIFFE started running as a child with her father, and quickly developed a passion for the sport which led to her becoming one of the world’s greatest ever long-distance runners.
But although she retired from competitive running more than five years ago, Paula, who held the women’s world marathon record for 16 years, has by no means hung up her trainers. She’s on a mission to get not only children but whole families out running together, just like she does with her own children.
“I’ve always been a big fan of families getting active together,” she says. “My own family love running and I want to spread the pleasure we get from it to other families.”
To share that running joy, Paula – spurred on by her now 14-year-old daughter Isla, who was the first person to ask if a family running initiative could work – created Families on Track, in which teams of three to five people, including at least one person aged over 18 and one aged between four and 16 years, complete 10km continuously in a relay by running loops of various distances.
“It’s about making it much easier for families to run 10k together, and have some quality time,” says Paula.
“Even youngsters of five or six can run 250m. We wanted young kids to be able to work hard and be really active. At the first one we did it was pouring down all day, and it was lovely to see the big smiles on everyone’s faces despite the weather. They really enjoyed it – particularly the kids.
“It’s not really a race, it’s more about the whole family completing 10k together. It’s important to make sure everyone – and particularly the
Mum of two and former marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe tells about her mission to get families taking part in 10K runs
is short lived, ending in defeat for Thomas.
Emma cemented her status as ‘man of the house’ last weekend when I overheard tense discussions between them regarding a toy shopping trolley.
Finally, Emma emerged triumphant astride the trolley with Thomas pushing her, in a scene reminiscent of Boudica riding in her chariot.
My concern is we enable her behaviour by enlisting her services as henchman. If we want Thomas to eat his dinner and stop playing, we rely on her to lend some muscle to the situation in a way I’m incapable of.
If something goes awry, breaks, or is spilt, she’s happy to turn informer and let us know exactly what her brother did to cause it.
Although there are also positive elements to Emma’s dictatorial behaviour. The most comforting is he’s got his very own guardian angel.
Throughout his life, nobody will have the chance to bully, intimidate or enlist the services of Thomas because she’s already doing all those things, and nobody is taking her man servant away without a fight.
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It is currently being tested by the NHS and could be rolled out to help the health service reach its target of catching three-quarters of cancers in the early stages.
■ There’s plenty to harvest now – courgettes quickly before they turn to marrows, second earlies and maincrop potatoes if foliage is going yellow. French and runner beans can be cropped regularly and onions, shallots and garlic are ready to dig up when foliage becomes yellow and flops over.
■ Check for cabbage white butterfly eggs and remove. Do the same with blackfly on broad beans and aphids everywhere.
■ Spot treat lawn weeds or pull out by hand if possible.
■ Going on holiday? Move pots to shady positions and ask a friendly neighbour to water them.
■ Cut back perennials that are finished or those that will give a