KS2 · Physical education · Year 6
Running for distance competition
Athletics: athletic challenges refined
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can run long distances as part of a competition and understand how to pace myself to finish the race.
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Running for distance competition: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.
What you’ll learn
I can run long distances as part of a competition and understand how to pace myself to finish the race.
Key learning points
- Move: it is important to pace ourselves in a long distance race to ensure we have enough energy to finish the race.
- Think: if we sprint too early in a long distance race, we will drain energy and may not finish.
- Think: leaving enough energy for a sprint finish shows tactical thinking to help us finish the race quicker.
- Feel: to be able to run a long distance race, we need to be resilient so we can keep going.
- Connect: collaborating and supporting each other as a team helps us to perform well.
Words to know
- long distance
- a type of running race or activity that covers a significant distance, usually much more than a sprint
- pace
- running at a speed that we can keep up for a long time
- energy
- is fuel for our body and it helps us move and do things
Common mistakes
Pupils believe that you have to be fast to be good at long distance running, overlooking the importance of endurance, breathing technique, pacing and tactics.
Explain that sprinting and long-distance running differ: sprinters rely on fast-twitch muscle fibres for power and speed, while long-distance runners use slow-twitch fibres for endurance and efficiency.
For parents, carers and teachers
- Esure you use a wide starting point for pupils, to avoid any crashes or pupils being tripped. Ensure you have clear vision of all pupils when they are running and pupils have access to water throughout the session.