Running Club

Mike wrote about The Whitehall Runners part of Bristol and West AC based at the stunning City Academy running track.  This is actually the group I attend it got me thinking about my first foray into running in a group. 

Essentially I was terrified.  You get all those irrational fears, and as I pulled up into the carpark I felt like I was walking into the school playground aged 4.  Would people like me?  Would I be the slowest person there?  Would I somehow manage the complete winding up of the whole group? 

Actually what I found was a really supportive and open group of people that enjoyed having a laugh, and also happened to be there for running.  We did a lot of different activities, including proper dynamic stretching (something which I totally neglected to do before), some a longer paced run, followed by some sprint running activities, be that a 400m relay race or sprints. 

As Mike said, the coaches are really invested in getting the best out of people and I owe part of my faster 10k time to them!

So if you’re hoping to improve your performance, join a club.  It’ll probably kick your arse, but you’ll see results.  Plus, people will probably like you, although if you’re a horrible person maybe it’s not for you.

New runner? Training for Bristol half marathon?

If you are a recreational runner and are looking for some extra support or training for the Bristol Half marathon or something similar, you could benefit from joining the recreational running group led by Bristol & West AC.

This is a pretty broad group, for beginners and more experienced runners and it is led by some VERY experienced coaches. These aren’t your normal personal trainer types, they are fully qualified athletics coaches who have looked after some of the best runners in the country. Don’t let that put you off though - they are very nice chaps too.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be supported by some people for whom running has been a lifetime’s work, so they really know their stuff. Bristol & West have recently decided to work much harder at supporting recreational runners in the area, and this session is part of that focus. I think it means that in a couple of years form now, we are going to see “Bristol & West AC” listed much more in the Bristol 10k and Half Marathon results.

These sessions are based at the lovely new Whitehall Running Track - another exciting reason for taking part.

New running group for recreational runners

Bristol & West AC are restarting a regular running group for non-competitive and new runners from the new track and stadium, with new changing rooms and facilities at Whitehall.

The people running the group are very experienced runners and qualified coaches. This, combined with the huge breadth of the club makes it well worth checking out.

Bristol & West are keen to encourage more people into running and the new facilities at Whitehall provide a fantastic opportunity for both club and runners. This is a perfect time to get involved and aid your preparation for the Bath Half and Bristol 10k next year.

Find out more here.