Grand finale of the UK’s biggest fun run in Glasgow
Former World and Commonwealth 10,000m champion, Liz McColgan cheered on over 3,500 youngsters from Glasgow as they took part in the UK's biggest fun run, today (Thursday 17th June).
Liz, who also won a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, started the Tesco Great School Run along with children's TV presenter Jamie Rickers, at Bellahouston Park.
Children from 80 schools throughout the city complete the 2km course and joined over a million more kids from over 4,000 schools across the UK who have taken part in the event, this week.
Now in its sixth year, the run - organised by those behind the world famous Great North Run - aims to encourage children between the ages of five and 11 to get fit and healthy through exercise and nutrition advice.
Liz said: "The children have been preparing for today for weeks, making sure they eat healthily and get enough exercise. It's clear that they enjoyed it - events like todays just go to show what great fun exercise can be.
"It's incredible to see so many children from Glasgow keeping fit and getting really enthusiastic about running. The buzz and excitement among the kids as they were crossing the starting line today was electric and it was really inspiring to see the effort they all put in."
Since the launch of this year's event in Glasgow on 10th May, athletes including British Olympic medallists Colin Jackson and Katharine Merry have visited schools around the country and encouraged children to prepare for this year's run by exercising regularly and eating well.
Colin said: "The Tesco Great School Run is always a fantastic event and I think this has been its best year yet. It's great that so many children from Glasgow have taken part and I hope that each of them can now maintain the enthusiasm they've shown for athletics and good health over the last few weeks."
Josh Hardie, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Tesco, said: "Tesco gets over two and a half million people active each year, and the Tesco Great School Run is a key part of this - it's a great way to switch young people on to exercise fun and to help make physical activity part of each school's and every family's lifestyle. We're extremely proud of its success and congratulate everyone who took part this year."
Posted on June 17, 2010 by CE