I recently participated in a 5km cross country fun run at my local park as one of my CAS activities. Having never done cross country running before, it was definitely a new challenge for me and allowed me to develop new skills. The learning outcomes this activity helped me meet were:

Learning Outcome 2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process. Running such a long distance was challenging for me physically as I’m not very active, but by training for it I was able to improve my stamina and pace. I had to push myself harder than usual.

Learning Outcome 3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience. I had to register for the event online and plan my training schedule in advance to prepare. I went for short runs 3 times a week in the park to build up my endurance.

Learning Outcome 4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences. Training for the race took discipline and perseverance on my part. There were a few times I didn’t feel like going for a run but I pushed through it to meet my goal of completing the 5km.

Learning Outcome 6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance. This event supported a local charity that helps fund medical aid for people in developing countries. By participating, I felt I was supporting an important cause on a global scale.

In terms of my expectations versus the actual experience, the race was harder than I imagined! Those last kilometers were a real struggle and my legs felt like jelly at the end. However, pushing through the difficulty and crossing the finish line gave me a great sense of achievement. I’m glad I challenged myself with this activity. It gave me a better understanding of my own perseverance and what my body and mind are capable of with determination. In the future, it has inspired me to keep taking on new challenges outside my comfort zone. Overall, despite finding it tough, I’m glad I did this cross country run and would consider joining other similar events.