May 12, the second Sunday of May 2019, is a day to honor mothers and give them gifts. Just after 7 a.m. that morning, the starting gun sounded for the 361° She Run 2019 Island Series Gulangyu Women’s Run at Gulangyu Piano Pier. Runners from all over, combining beauty and strength, hit the road, running toward health.
Among the energetic runners, several mother-daughter duos running together were particularly eye-catching. Dressed uniformly in running gear sponsored by 361° Kids, their faces beamed with happiness and contentment. Some held hands, chatting and laughing, encouraging each other to keep going; others ran side by side, perfectly in sync, exchanging glances; some ran one after the other, with one leading the way, all the while greeting each other… This heartwarming scene of running for love brought a “different” kind of holiday experience for Mother’s Day, enriching the meaning of the“She Run” women’s run and offering a special way for families to exercise together.
“It’s a really worthwhile event. Running in such a warm family atmosphere allows children to fully express their nature, giving them a positive, free, and genuine running experience in childhood, which helps build close parent-child relationships and lets children grow up healthy and happy.” said the organizers of the “She Run” women’s run. “It’s very meaningful!”
The family run event of the 361° She Run 2019 Island Series Gulangyu Women’s Run, themed “Attack!All-Round Moms,” was held on Mother’s Day to pay tribute to mothers and gratitude for family bonds. Capturing beautiful moments of mother-daughter runs aimed to give all women celebrating the holiday a token of thanks and an unforgettable Mother’s Day memory.
Spanning 3 kilometers and lasting about 1 hour, the “She Run” Gulangyu Women’s Run family run started from the pier, ran along Gulinxin Road, passed by Qicai Linglong Hotel and Yanwei Mountain Park, and finished at Neicuoao Pier. Winding through Gulangyu, where the buzz of daily life blends with poetic charm, mother and daughter moved through the winding yet historic architecture of the international settlement, accompanied by birdsong. With every step, they witnessed life awakening in the morning light, feeling the tenderness and serenity of maternal love.
A 361° Kids staff member involved in coordinating the “She Run Women’s & Kids’ Run” said that mother and daughter are the most special combination in the world. They are simple family members, ordinary moms and daughters, but they can also be best friends, inseparable confidantes, the closest female duo in the world. In her view, the “family run” is more than just a jog—it’s an effort to build closeness between mother and child, a way to nurture and maintain this unique bond, and a detail-oriented approach to shaping a happy future for the child.
After completing the 3-kilometer course, the “Attack!All-Round Moms” parent-child interactive games, carefully prepared by 361° Kids for Mother’s Day, officially began. Moms put their skills to the test, conquering “five challenges” to earn the title of “All-Round Mom” with their outstanding abilities.
At the event, Ms. Zhang, holding her “All-Round Mom” certificate, exclaimed, “I learned so much with my child!” During the relaxation session after the run, they played the role of star athletes, conquering the “Invincible Playmate” challenge; wearing aprons and standing in a designated area, they caught a set number of ingredients thrown by their kids using the apron to earn the title “Super Chef”; “The third challenge was the most fun—we all vented about the struggles of tutoring our kids…” making them “Tough Teachers”; the fourth challenge, considered especially useful by many, involved learning how to use a standard family first aid kit on-site, earning the title “Family Doctor” upon completion; the final grand challenge had moms and daughters practicing self-defense techniques for women under the guidance of professional coaches, thus passing the “Bodyguard” test.
“It was so much fun. My mom is amazing—she was great at everything: playmate, chef, teacher, doctor, bodyguard. Especially during the self-defense practice, she had such a serious expression and perfect moves, totally unlike her usual playful self!” Ms. Zhang’s daughter Miao Miao gave her mom a thumbs-up as she watched her having so much fun.
Helping children grow through sports, and nurturing the next generation to be positive, free, and true to themselves has always been the brand philosophy advocated by 361° Kids, demonstrated through various activities. Organizing mother-daughter runs in a place full of natural vibes and historical depth like Gulangyu, allowing them to enjoy a unique parent-child running experience, not only embodies the “She Run” spirit of experiencing the wonders of the world, but also offers a meaningful gift for Mother’s Day. As one mother who took part in the mother-daughter run said: “For me, it’s a rare Mother’s Day memory; for my child, it’s a running experience full of love.”