Get Started Courses

GET STARTED COURSES
 

What is Get Started?
 

Our Get Started course is designed to help people who are just starting out with running and might be nervous or anxious about running with others or joining a club. We help take the worry out of getting started by offering
 

•            Organised runs led by a group of experienced runners 

•            Different runs at different paces including walk / run sessions 

•            A safe and sociable environment to run round our great city & countryside 

•            All this and a year’s club membership for only £12.50!
 

When are the courses?
 

Our first course (Sep 2011) was a great success with over 60 new runners joining the club, some who by their own admission ‘could not run for bus’ and are now enjoying 3 runs a week and have even completed a couple of local 5k fun runs! We plan to do another course in April 2012, details will follow soon, but if you want to let us know that you are interested – please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Who is it for?
 

If you can run or jog continuously for 30 minutes, at any speed, then you can join the club without needing to do a Get Started course and come to our normal Tuesday or Thursday training sessions. If you are not up to 30 minutes yet or have only just started to run or are thinking about starting to run, it’s best to wait for our next Get Started course or follow a training plan like the one we used for the course to help get you started.
 

•            Lots of Beginners Advice

•            Simple 8 week training plan

What are the course details?
 

•            Next course April 2012 

•            6 week course 

•            2 x 1 hr evening sessions per week (7pm) 

•            Only £12.50 (includes yearly membership too) 

•            Friendly coaches to go through your goals with you 

•            Runs around the beautiful Verulamium Park and lake.

•            Progress at your own pace each week until you feel confident enough to try a run with one of our existing groups or a track session

•            Training on warm-ups, cool-downs and stretching
 

The idea is you come along for as many of the sessions as you can fit in during the 6-week course, it doesn’t matter if you miss a couple of sessions or can only make one of the days per week. Lots of us struggle to leave work on time, find childcare or battle with delayed trains! If you miss a session you can always use our route maps and training guides to help you fit it in some other time in the week.
 

What will I need?
 

•            Running trainers 

•            Comfortable clothes (t-shirt if hot). Girls - sports bras for you. 

•            Cap if it is raining or very sunny

•            Water for afterwards
 

How can I sign up?
 

If you would like to be kept informed about the next course This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we can send you more information nearer the time. It’s MUCH cheaper than paying for a gym and includes full membership too, so you don’t need to stop at the end of the course, you can join us whenever and keep up your fitness.

Whatever level you are, whether complete beginner or returning to fitness, this course can really help you Get Started!
 

NORMAL CLUB TRAINING SESSIONS
 

Training
 

If you want to come and join us before / without doing a get started course, here is a no-nonsense explanation of what goes on at our training sessions. We are a friendly running group, and new members come along every week, so there are always new faces. We welcome new people at any time throughout the year.
 

• Tuesdays

Track - Interval sessions organised by our coach.

This is where we all run for a few minutes and then rest for a few minutes. Everyone runs at their own speed, and can stop at any time, so don’t be frightened that it’s on the track, this is the easiest session to go to if you are not sure when you might need to stop!
 

Road Runs – different speeds and distances around St Albans

This is where different groups go out around St Albans, all at different speeds for 30mins to 60mins. Runs are usually ‘described’ by speed in minutes per mile (i.e. 10 minute mile pace = 10 mins to run a mile). There might be 3 runs that go out each night at 8.5, 9.5 and 11 min miles.
 

• Thursdays

Road runs only, no use of the track
 

Same as above, but there might be 4 runs out on the road including a 4 mile run at the pace of the slowest runner. This may be slower than 11 min mile pace depending on who is running.
 

Membership
 

We welcome new members to join us for a couple of sessions to give us a try and see how you find it. If you decide you want to carry on running with us you’ll need to become a member for the bargain price of £12.50 for the year! More information on our membership page