---
title: "School Sports Day Running Races - Download PDF"
url: https://thepehub.co.uk/free-content/resources/sports-day-running-races-423/
description: "Our free PDF guide to sports day running races gives you the key info you need to plan exciting and fun races. Download this free resource today!"
---

# Sports Day Running Races

## Download Resource PDF

[Download Now](https://media-prod.pehub.eject.pro/cms-sync/cG9zdDoxNzc2NjU2)

Our handy guide to running races for a school sports day is perfect for helping you plan. Available as a downloadable PDF you can print and stick on the wall.

## Sprint Races

- Make sure the distance is age and ability appropriate, and a distance to which children can keep a consistent sprint speed e.g., Key Stage 1, 15 - 30 metres Key Stage 2, 30 - 60m. 
- Use a whistle to start the race and prepare the children to expect the start noise. 
- Use adults or older children to hand out position tags when the runners cross the line. This helps you to record positions; someone holds a 1st place tag/note and watches for the pupil who wins and hands them the 1st place tag – do this for all runners and their positions.

## Egg and Spoon Races

- Use a traditional egg and spoon; hard-boiled is best! 
- Alternatives can be balancing a ball on a racquet or a softball on a spoon. Get creative to ensure all children can work at an appropriate level of challenge. 
- To add an extra dimension, you could include obstacles for children to encounter en route.

![Sports day running races](https://media-prod.pehub.eject.pro/Sports day running races.png)

## Middle Distance Races

- Middle distance running is traditionally thought of as 800 and 1500m in school. These are quite challenging distances for primary age children, especially without training. 
- Middle distance might look more like 400 – 1000m depending on the age and ability of your pupils. Middle distance should be long enough so children can’t sprint the whole way. 
- Choose distances that will challenge pupils to adopt a pace rather than run flat out as your ‘middle distance’ event – you know your pupils!

## Relay Races

- These races have a set number of legs, usually four, each leg run by a different member of the team. The runner finishing one leg passes the baton to the next runner. 
- You can have more or fewer stages to adapt to your groups and classes needs.
- Include an exchange zone to make the race more challenging, runners must have passed the baton within this zone. 
- If you don’t have proper athletics batons, get creative! Rolled up and sellotaped newspaper works or an empty kitchen roll tube.

### Other Resources You May Find Helpful

- [Our sports day planning checklist](https://thepehub.co.uk/free-content/resources/sports-day-planning-checklist-1763/)
- [How to plan a primary school sports day](https://thepehub.co.uk/blog/how-to-plan-a-primary-school-sports-day/)
- [Sports day games guide](https://thepehub.co.uk/blog/sports-day-games/)
- [Year 6 Athletics Knowledge Organiser](https://thepehub.co.uk/free-content/resources/year-6-athletics-knowledge-organiser-585/)
- [Scissor jump](https://thepehub.co.uk/free-content/resources/scissor-jump-414/)

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