Are you a beginner, an intermediate or an elite athlete?

It doesn't matter! The rules of safe, sensible and objective running will always apply! During training & racing!!!!

This means if you wish to go for a gentle 20min jog 3 times a week in your local park or intend to train for a Personal Best at your local 10k race, you still need to consider the following.

Safety First

• Always tell someone where you are going & carry some ID with you! Click here for ID ideas

• During the dark nights, make sure you are seen! Even if you think you can been seen may not mean you are actually are seen!!

• If running with a group, never leave anyone behind! This is not a race it is only training!!

• In a group, still remain vigilant when crossing roads etc, it is all to easy to follow the leader!!

• Wear suitable clothing! Sounds silly, all you need is shorts, vest and shoes!! Think again! Prepare for unexpected condition especially on longer runs.

So we got the boring stuff out  of the way!

Although road running means running or racing on road, this doesn't mean training purely on the road.  In fact other than dark winter evenings, if you can you should try and run offroad as frequently as you run on road. 

Our club in the heart of the five Valleys lends itself to all varieties of running

What Now

Starting Out

Congratulations! You’ve decided to start running. Before you tear out of the door in a fit of boundless enthusiasm, take just a minute to find out the beginner’s basics. You’ll go faster, further and happier, we promise.

Starting at the ground, possibly the only thing you really need in order to run is a pair of decent running shoes. They vary as much as prescription spectacles do, so go to a specialist running shop and get a free expert assessment, The best combination of value and comfort is usually at £60-£75, but if you’re not heavy and you have no special biomechanical needs, a £40 or £50 shoe might be fine.

Clothing: There’s no set running uniform: pick what you feel comfortable in. Women often choose Lycra shorts or tights; and non-cotton clothes help you stay drier. Women should buy a high-support sports bra (the more comfortable you are, the more you’ll run!).

Now you’re almost ready to go. Here’s you’ll find out where the phrase ‘don’t try to run before you can walk’ comes from. Unless you’ve been doing a cardiovascular sport – something like tennis, football, or regular aerobics classes – you should almost definitely start with a walk/run programme. That means alternating two minutes walking with one or two minutes jogging; go for 10-20 minutes the first time, then build it up over a period of weeks, gradually increasing the total time and the proportion of running.

Get a friend to join you – running is a sociable sport, and it’s easier to stay motivated if you have someone to compare notes with.

Within weeks you’ll be feeling fitter and more energised. But if part of you hurts during or after you run, take a couple of days off, or more if you need. If in doubt, rest: don’t let a niggle become an injury. Injuries are most commonly caused by going too far or too fast too soon; not easing into a run; and running on hard surfaces or with the wrong shoes.

Soon you’ll be comfortable to do three or four sessions a week, and you’ll find that running is becoming part of your routine. Some runners get into a groove and are happy to stick with it, but most people run better if they have a goal to focus on. It could be to complete your local 10K in an hour, or to enter a race and raise money for your favourite charity. What are you waiting for?

The indoor sessions are a mix of circuit training and sport taster sessions, catering for all abilities & ages.

Families are particularly welcome to train together, especially with younger children

The beginners running group will take place every Thursday winter & summer and is an ideal starting point for new runner before moving up to the intermediate group. This group will run most Tuesdays & Thursdays, doing a steady pace for around 5 miles

After 6-8 weeks in this group, runners can then be slotted into suitable groups relative to their running pace.

Anyone currently running 5+ miles is welcome to turn up any Tuesday or Thursday, to run with a suitable group

The club is keen to encourage "new runners" to enter races when they have reached a suitable fitness level and a group will be taking part in Severn AC "fun runners" 4 mile series, held on the first Thursday each month at Gloucester from May to September

If you need encouragement and advice on running turn up to any club session or phone Phil Manning 01453 834040 or Steve Carr 01453 ??????

We meet on a Tuesday & Thursday evening at 18:00hrs and on a Sunday at 08:30hrs.  There are several different groups ranging from our fast 5min miler to the great 12min milers.  Distance covered varies from 6 to 12miles (up mileage covered in the summer months). more info ......