His legs still aching from the ordeal of racing more than 26 miles through the streets of London the day before, Marc Scott turned out at a Wallington primary school yesterday morning, possibly to inspire the next generation of champion runners.
On his way home: Marc Scott placed 11th in Sunday’s London Marathon
Scott was the third British man to finish in Sunday’s London Marathon, 11th out of the 50,000 runners, clocking 2hr 11min 19sec as he crossed the finish line on The Mall – a brilliant marathon debut for the 30-year-old Yorkshireman, but agonisingly outside the qualifying time for the summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, the target that the former US collegiate champion and world indoors bronze medallist had set for himself.
Despite that disappointment, Scott was on hand at Foresters School to talk to the children about his career as a professional runner, and supporting the pupils while they carried out The Daily Mile.
Foresters School on Redford Avenue, not far from the Purley Way, has been awarded the “Children Fit For Life” award – an award given to schools who participate in The Daily Mile at least three times a week. Foresters School has been participating in The Daily Mile since 2019, and some of its pupils had even taken part in the London Mini Marathon over the weekend.
Award-winners: pupils at Foresters School in Wallington were presented with their Daily Mile award by Olympic runner Scott
The Daily Mile was developed by Elaine Wyllie when she was headteacher of St Ninian’s Primary School in Stirling, Scotland in February 2012. Classes would go out into the playground, in their normal school clothes and shoes, and walk, jog or run for about 15minutes, or around one mile, each day – at whatever pace suits the child best, an exercise intended to get the often mostly sedentary children used to… exercise.
Since 2016, The Daily Mile has grown into an international phenomenon, with more than 5million children taking part worldwide.
High fives: Marc Scott encouraging the Forester School pupils as theu complete their Daily Mile
It gets children active with their friends and teachers and refreshed for further learning. The Daily Mile is free, fun and fits in the school day easily.
Scott, the European indoor 5,000metres record-holder, recently moved back to Britain from the United States, and is expected now to refocus his plans for this summer’s athletics season, probably towards securing selection for the British Olympic team at 10,000metres – the distance at which he finished 14th at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Read more:Ballot open for 2025 London Marathon entries
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