In the words of one kid, week three of the Lane 6 program was “the absolute bestest so far.” Another asked, “why can we just do this every time?”

It should come as no surprise that the focus of this week’s training and mentorship session was popular among the mentors and mentees alike. That focus was on sprinting. Short, fast and a ton of fun. Not to mention, a great excuse to channel our inner Usain Bolt and celebrate with some swagger at the finish line.

All photos by Aidas Odonelis.

RELATED: Lane 6 aims to inspire Canada’s next generation of runners

Of course, no one should start off at a sprint which is why we all made sure we were properly warmed up with some easy running followed by an abundance of good running form drills.

But soon enough, the anticipation of the fast stuff was too much to bear and the kids made it very clear they were ready for the sprints. And so with a focus on good form, a series of 50m, 100m and 200m (which was a tad too far for most) sprints were executed.

Although a majority of participants expressed doubt that they could run even one metre more, the day’s final activity–a 4 x 50m relay–definitely peaked their interests and got everyone back on track.

And so over some well-earned and healthy snacks, another exciting week of Lane 6 came to a close with the sharing of the day’s excitement including stories of new personal bests and photo finishes.

 

Canadian Running, Nike are partnering to inspire the next generation of track athletes and runners through a weekly running and mentorship program. Kids from around Toronto come for weekly training sessions at Central Tech track. This program is designed to be a fun entryway into running and a safe space to set goals and share with mentors.

With coaching, gear, mentor guidance and a fun atmosphere, Canadian Running and Nike are inspiring kids to be active through running.

A special thanks to our nutrition sponsor: