This week my Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Helen Godwin, has asked to contribute a guest blog about the 2K Challenge.

This weekend my kids, along with hundreds of others, will take part in the first ever Bristol 2K Challenge. We will be running at Junior Parkrun Kingsweston House as part of Team North (despite the inevitable wind and rain!). I know that at the end, red-faced and out of puff, they will feel an exhilarating sense of achievement after competing the 2KM course.

Bristol has had a brilliant year as City of Sport, but as the year draws to a close we will focus on the legacy and how we can make sure that our year of sport has turned into something tangible and positive for our young people.

The City is lucky to host three Junior Parkrun events every week, so this November we want children aged 4 to 14 to get outside in the fresh air and completing their very own Bristol 2K Challenge. The runs are held every Sunday in Victoria Park and Eastville Park (both at 9am and fully accessible) and at 10am at Kingsweston House. They are completely free, all you have to do is pre-register your children and decide which of our Bristol teams they will run for: North, South or East/Central. Everyone who completes the course will receive their time and a limited edition 2K Challenge wristband.  You can register now at the following link:

https://www.bristolcityofsport17.co.uk/portfolio-items/bristol-2k-challenge/

This generation of children are growing up in a country that has produced world leaders in so many different sporting arenas; from the Olympians and Paralympians of London 2012 to the recent World Cup victory of the U17’s football team – there is nothing to stop young Bristolians from thinking they can make it. We want our children to have a core level of fitness that will give them opportunities to compete in all sports, but most importantly we want them to take part. Bristol has higher than average levels of childhood obesity, by Year 6 one fifth of our children are seriously overweight and we owe it to these children to tackle this issue head on. The power of exercise to improve mental health is proven, and we must support and encourage sport as way to channel energy and negative thoughts.

So, rain or shine, please sign up your children to join in the Bristol 2k Challenge this November. The Mayor and I can’t wait to see Bristol’s children taking over the parks for the next four weeks and, hopefully, beyond.

And, of course, the answer to the burning question – grown ups can join in too!