Sport for Health Themed Ideas and Activities for the Whole Family!
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Inspirational People –
For Inspirational Times...
A closer look at another inspirational figurehead…
Let's
Get Moving…
Whether you’re inside or outside in your garden, try these fun ideas to keep your mind and body busy!
Getting YUMMY
With it…
With a different recipe or foody suggestion for each issue, there’s no need to get food bored!
Our TOP
Five...
A pick of five top items for this issue, ready for you to delve into…
Competition
Time!
Why not enter our themed competition? You could win a Treasure Trails gift voucher in preparation for when we can all get back out there!
Puzzle
Time…
Exercise your mind as well as your body with our selection of quizzes!
Inspirational People – For Inspirational Times:
Lauren Steadman
British Paralympian Lauren Steadman
It was really tough to choose an inspirational sportsperson for this issue!
The word ‘inspirational’ is open to interpretation, but anyone who has achieved great success and has become a world-class performer in any sport is, in many ways, an inspiration.
But that would be an awfully long list!
Having recently seen her on the TV programme Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, my choice is triathlete Lauren Steadman, who was one of only two people to complete the course successfully.
Lauren has competed at two Paralympic Games as a swimmer.
She subsequently specialised in Paratriathlon & represented Team GB in the sport’s inaugural entry to the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016, where she took home a silver medal. Lauren is a triple world champion and seven-time European champion – a title which she has won 3 and 6 times respectively. Lauren was born missing her lower right arm, however, according to her website, this has challenged Lauren to be the best she can be, and she relishes the chance to overcome barriers.
According to Lauren, her motivation for taking on the SAS challenge was no different. “I wanted to show people that just your true grit and determination can get you really far.” It’s the first time the Channel 4 show has invited a celebrity with a disability to take on the course. Lauren made sure she was given no special treatment, so none of the challenges were changed to fit her needs.
She says: “I said that I didn’t want to be treated as different, because then what’s the point?”
Lauren previously appeared on television in 2018 in series 16 of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with AJ Pritchard. She made it to the Semi Final and went on to perform in the live version of the show. She says: “I went on Strictly to change perceptions and show people that, actually, you can do whatever you want.”
In her time away from being a world class athlete, Lauren successfully studied for and achieved her Masters in Business after gaining her degree in Psychology.
What an inspiration!
Let’s Get Moving:
Time for some Physical Activities!
Okay, so strictly speaking Treasure Trails aren’t a sport, but you’d be amazed how the desire to be first to spot a clue brings out Trailers’ competitive streaks!
So forgive us for blowing our own trumpets, but our recommendation for fresh air fun this issue is to get out there on a Treasure Trail!
One of the many great things about the Trails is their wide appeal.
It doesn’t matter if you aren’t super-fit, or in the first flush of youth, the Trails don’t require great strength or talent – they can be done by almost everyone. And you don’t need a whole team (or opposition) to participate in a Trail – you can do a Trail on your own, or with your favourite team-mate(s). However, please remember social distancing if your team-mates don’t share your household!
Not everyone wants to be in a city right now, so we are featuring a list of our most remote Trails across the UK – all broken down into county. To read more about our remote Trails, and choose your nearest one, please click on the link below.
» Local Treasure Hunts to Escape the Crowds
Getting YUMMY With It…
That good old family favourite – The PICNIC!
Our recommendations for eating this time are centred on that old favourite – the picnic!
And who doesn’t love a picnic? With an easing of lockdown restrictions we can now go further afield and enjoy our picnic away from our balconies, gardens and the local park – whilst still respecting social-distancing, of course, and remembering to wash our hands, or use wipes or hand gel if no washing facilities are available.
There are so many huge pluses to having a picnic!
We all know that being outdoors is a natural mood booster, as a change of scene and a way to breathe in fresh air, and we’ve heard a lot recently about the benefits of vitamin D we get from the sun.
A simple, relaxed meal away from the normal environment can encourage conversation, communication and family bonding.
Picnics can encourage healthy eating habits, especially if all the family gets involved in choosing what to include, amid discussions of the health benefits of certain foods.
Picnics are relatively inexpensive and, at a time when restaurants and cafes aren’t open, are your best bet for feeding the family whilst out and about – for example on a Treasure Trail!
The main things to remember when choosing your picnic food are to ensure you use a cool box/ice packs if it’s a hot day, include easy-to-transport and easy-to-eat finger food, consider a savoury ‘centrepiece’ that’s easy to divide up (just don’t forget your knife!), ensure a good range of nutrition, especially including fresh fruit and vegetables, and cater for any specific dietary requirements.
My personal picnic of choice would include the following:
Chicken and avocado sandwich – perfect combination of flavours!
Cake – any, except one including dates! If pushed, hands-down favourite would be lime and coconut.
Carrot sticks and grapes – something healthy to counteract the effects of the cake!
Still water to drink if I am driving or being healthy – Pimm’s if not 😊
For some (less personal) inspiration of what to make and take on your picnic, we recommend you check out the BBC Good Food website – https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/top-10-healthy-picnic-recipes
Our TOP Five…
Films with a Sporting Theme
Instead of sorting our sock drawer or learning to play the piano, as we initially thought we might do during lockdown, many of us have been watching many more films than normal in recent weeks.
In keeping with the theme of this TT Strange Times, we were discussing our favourite sport-themed films.
It soon became obvious that a consensus would never be reached on the Top 5 Sport-themed Films, and for this reason, the films listed below are quite simply MY top five – but I have listed them chronologically, as I found it too hard to rank them!
When considering watching them we recommend you double-check the films’ certificates, to ensure they are suitable for the audience at home. And by the way – don’t worry if you aren’t a huge sport fan, these films are all about so much more than the sports that appear in them!
Chariots of Fire (1981) PG
Nearly 40 years on, the film’s theme tune by the Greek composer Vangelis Papathanassiou is still instantly and widely recognisable and takes me back to the days of my youth when this film first came out. Some years later the videographer used the music as the background on my wedding video. I have no idea why, but it still makes me smile to this day.
Based on a true story, Chariots of Fire tells the story of two very different men who compete as runners for Great Britain in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Described by the late film critic Roger Ebert as “unabashedly and patriotically British” the film tells of Eric Liddell, a serious Christian Scotsman, who is driven to succeed as a testament to his undying religious faith and Harold Abrahams, a Jewish Englishman whose aim is to be accepted and prove to the world that Jews are not inferior. We see elements of each man’s life as he trains for the competition, using running as a means of asserting his dignity.
This powerful film ended up with four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score.
The film is currently available on YouTube and Amazon Prime.
Field of Dreams (1989) PG
One of the things I love about this film is that it reminds me of the time when I lived in Alberta, Canada. Although the landscapes are not exactly the same, there is that sense of wide-open space and huge farms that are sufficiently different from where I live now that the Iowa corn farm in ‘Field of Dreams’ takes me back to a very happy time in my life.
What is even more powerful though is the heart-warming tale of dedication and inspiration brought to life by Kevin Costner’s character that proves that dreams can be not only achieved but built. “If you build it, he will come.” is one of the most famous movie quotes of all time.
An Iowa corn farmer, hearing voices, interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields; he does, and the players of the 1919 Chicago White Sox come.
Although ostensibly a film about baseball, it soon becomes apparent that this film is all about family and relationships; it’s a tear-jerker with a happy ending.
That “magical” field in Dyersville, Iowa still draws thousands of baseball-happy tourists each year.
This film ended up with three Academy Award nominations: for Best Picture, Best Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film is currently available on YouTube and Amazon Prime.
Jerry Maguire (1996) 15
My favourite quote from a 90’s move comes from ‘Jerry Maguire’ – “You had me at hello”. If you are unfamiliar with this quote or the film it comes from then you are in for a treat. With an engaging cast, led by a youthful Tom Cruise as the eponymous sports agent, this film was actually inspired by a real person, sports agent Leigh Steinberg.
When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former colleague. Redemption, love and the realisation that there are more important things than money, are the main themes of the story.
The film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (for Tom Cruise), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing and Best Supporting Actor (for Cuba Gooding Jr.) who was the only eventual winner.
The film is currently available on YouTube and Amazon Prime.
Remember the Titans (2000) PG
My over-riding memory of watching this film is seeing it for the first time (of very many!) with my young sons and my husband. An extremely powerful film, based on a true story, which has a variety of important messages, this film will make you laugh, cry and jump out of your seat when something unexpected happens. Showcasing the power of leadership, friendship and teamwork to overcome adversity and prejudice, this film tells the inspirational story about the struggles and victories of a newly-integrated high school football team in 1971 Alexandria, Virginia.
At first, both white and black players refused to even speak to each other. Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) decides to take action and after a long struggle, the boys begin to understand the real meaning of ‘team’. The ongoing training under the strict guidance of Coach Boone made the players gradually ignore racial prejudice, and ultimately bring their community together.
Although it was not nominated for any Academy Awards Remember the Titans is widely recognised as one of the best biographical sports films of all time.
The film is currently available on YouTube, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus (subscription).
Bend it Like Beckham (2002) 12
This was another film I enjoyed with my sport-mad husband and sons on a Friday ‘movie and pizza night’ at home. Telling the story of two young women in London Bend it like Beckham is a feel-good movie, recommended for families with older children.
Although she comes from a traditional Indian family, Jess dreams of becoming a professional footballer, like her hero David Beckham. Although her parents are initially against her unorthodox ambition, it becomes clear that their reservations have more to do with protecting her than with holding her back. When Jess is forced to make a choice between tradition and her beloved sport, her family must decide whether to let her chase her dream or follow a more traditional path.
While there may not be too many surprises, there are some fun action sequences and lots of laughs, and it’s great to see women’s sport promoted positively and enthusiastically.
The film is currently available on YouTube and Amazon Prime.
Our Survey Says…
That’s our top five for some thrilling sports oriented action and entertainment – but as always – we’d love to hear your suggestions too! Tag us on social media using #OurSurveySays to let us know the go-to sporty movies that you turn to!
Competition Time!
Sporting Competition Time!
This edition’s competition is a straightforward I-Spy Challenge. Well – as straightforward as Treasure Trails ever allows!
Take a good look at this picture taken from the Wimbledon Championships. You can click the image to enlarge it:
Now, can you work out the answers to these 3 following I-Spy style questions?
Easy: I spy with my little eye something beginning with: “1 B B Crouching Down“
Medium: I spy with my little eye something beginning with: “P and W F“
Hard: I spy with my little eye something beginning with: “2 C W B F U“
To be in with a chance to win the prize, you need to let us know the following three letters, along with your details when you submit your entry below.
1. The 3rd letter of the 5th word of Clue 1.
2. The 4th letter of the 3rd word in Clue 2.
3. The 2nd letter of the 2nd word in Clue 3.
Easy right? So, once you’ve got it, send us your answer using the Entry Form below and include the hashtag “#I-Spy“.
From all entries received, a winner will be chosen who will receive a Treasure Trails gift voucher!
Closing date for entry is midday, Friday 3rd July 2020.
Puzzle Time…
Time to Grab That Thinking Cap Again!
If you need something to entertain you indoors we are pleased to present our latest Mini Trails!
A Proper Courtside Drama!
OK – so we know that sadly there’ll be no Wimbledon this year, but there’s no reason why we can’t imagine ourselves in SW19 as we solve a murder mystery. May we suggest a nice bowl of strawberries and cream as a snack whilst you are sleuthing?
In ‘A Proper Courtside Drama’ you will need to uncover who served up a slice of murder to legendary tennis umpire Diddy Seeit.
Simply find the answers to the clues and eliminate the suspects. When you have only one left you will know who allegedly bumped-off the umpire.
Click the image to the right to download the Trail – and good luck!
(Stuck? don’t worry, the answers for it can be found here!)
Great British Sports Venues
We know it’s not possible to actually visit main iconic sporting locations in Britain at the moment, but there’s no reason why we can’t VIRTUALLY visit them!
We’ve come up a MINI VIRTUAL Trail for you to explore with. All you need is a device with internet connection and access to Google maps and Streetview.
Click the image to the left to download the Great British Sports Venues Mini Trail – and good luck!
(Stuck? don’t worry, the answers for it can be found here!)
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