I ALWAYS wondered what dads get up to with their children during weekends. We all look forward to weekends and evenings, and we often do end up playing computer games, games on the cellphones or seated with our children watching cricket, soccer, rugby or some car programme.

Well, here’s my story; living along this beautiful coastline there is so much a dad can do with his son. You know, rather than spending that time in the armchair being an expert on your sports, there are memories to be made with your boy outside. Because when your children grow up they will look back on their childhood days and wonder why you did not play with them.

Doing some sort of sporting activity with your children builds a bond that works on so many levels bringing joy, laughter and fun. Playing outdoors brings the adrenaline-pumping joy of friendly competition, be it races, catch, bicycle rides, cricket, soccer, golf, or volleyball.

Playing sport is an excellent and relaxed way to teach the important stuff like being a good dad, strong dad, competitive dad or just a good loser. Working together, supporting each other, picking each other up when one has fallen gives me pride and builds that bond between father and son. No offence to the mothers. We are not taking your children away from you.

On this topic, my son (7) and I look forward to weekends. Come Saturday morning he’s up at 6am. “Dad, let’s go to the beach,” he says. For the first few months, I must admit waking up at 6am did bother me. But that shaking and begging from him has certainly paid off. I get to keep fit…and have noticed how unfit I had become. We have been going to the beach now for the past three years and I must admit that I so much look forward to weekends, even waking up at 6!

Well, besides going to the beach I suggest some other sports to play with your children.

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Cycling

Running

I still have to take up this challenge, but parkrun is a fabulous sport to keep the entire family fit. This massive, global, volunteer-led, keep-fit movement has taken off in a huge way here on the South Coast and across South Africa. And the best part off it its free. So why not take up the challenge.  Most people are not aware that Uvongo has its very own parkrun, a free, timed, 5km run or walk, run by parkrun volunteers, that starts at St Michae’ls beach every Saturday morning at 8am.

The course is renowned for being one of the most beautiful of South Africa’s more than 100 parkruns. It is run on a mixture of pavement, grass and sand, including two section of beach. Some sections of the course become a bit muddy at times and there are some uneven sections of pathway. It is well sign-posted and marshals are available at key points.

The route starts on the grassy section next to the St Michael’s parking area. The start is sign-posted. The first section is a 300m there and back run across the beach then the route follows the attractive Saints Walk shoreline pathway adjacent to Orange Rocks Road on grass, onto brick paving leading to Uvongo Beach, where there is another short beach section before runners return the same way to the start. To take up the challenge go to www.parkrun.co.za. Check your parkrun locations in your area and then register.