Being active and keeping fit are two very important lessons, but it is not just those in the classroom who need a reminder.
The Otago Virtual Triathalon, held at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday, featured Bayfield, Fairfield, Logan Park and Otago Boys’ High School testing their mettle.
Pupils competed against their peers in a 1.5km row, 3km cycle and a 1.5km run.
The event will continue for schools today, and tomorrow businesses will follow in the pupils’ footsteps.
Sports Otago events lead Sophie Russell said the event was about being active and getting your body moving, no matter how old you are.
"The whole idea of the event is to get businesses out from behind their desks and have some team bonding for the day," Miss Russell said.
"Especially in the workplace, a lot of us these days are very sedentary and during winter you’ve got to work when it’s dark and come home when it’s dark, so it’s pretty hard to get motivated to get out there."
Miss Russell said the event used to be held in the Octagon which needed roads to be closed and equipment transported to the city centre.
It was hard to run so had stopped for a number of years before it was brought back during the pandemic as a socially-distanced fitness option.
Bayfield High School sports co-ordinator Sheree Calder said the event was really popular and the kids loved it.
The stadium was the ideal space to get the pupils excited about fitness.
"It’s quite a novelty for the kids. You walk in through those big double doors and it is quite awe-inspiring," Mrs Calder said.
"You feel like a team playing at the stadium, it’s really cool."
tim.scott@odt.co.nz , PIJF cadet reporter
