Training plan for next month or so.

To help plan your training here’s a taste of things to come.

Wed 28 April. Off road run meet at Credenhill Woods 615. Choose from 4, 5, or 6 ish. Chrissy leads.

Wed 5 th May. Couriers 5k if you have a slot or a speed session on the track at 630 pm.

Monday 10th May. An off road across Lyde Ridge led by Bran and Jan. Meet Leisure centre car park 615 pm.

Wed 12th May – hill session. Details to follow soon

Wed 19 May. Back to the track for speed for all led by Peter.

Monday 26 May. Another off road jaunt led by Jo Ellis. Details soon.

Wed 2nd June back to the track for some speed.

Volunteers to lead any session in the future always welcome. Plenty of support to help.

Spring Training w/c 19 April

Monday we head for the Lugg Meadows. Mark leads us on a trail through the meadows. Marked out hash harrier style. Those who don’t fancy the 6 miles can cut back. Meet 615. Details and check in on the club app.
Wednesday it’s speed. Chrissy leads us with Martin on his whistle. A fartlek session for all. Meet 630 at Halo Track. Details and check in on the app.

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AlteRnative Club Run. Mon 19 ApRil 6.15 pm.

Monday 19 April. Meet at the Lugg Meadows entrance opposite The Cock of Tupsley on the Ledbury Road at 18:15. There is a kind of lay by there with plenty of parking. Because I'm not in the fast group I will pre-lay a trail to show the route, Hash House Harrier style 😉 So it'll be a paper chase style tour of the meadows hopefully with bluebells, wild garlic & fritillaries plus whatever else we can spot. There will be several options for fast running and for short- cutting to keep us all together. What could possibly go wrong? Mark

Spring Training Programme - Week 2 - Wed April 7th

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A super turnout last week for our first week in the series - 30 club members took an amble up the River on a balmy Spring evening.

This week we go back to the track - led by Martin - Track start time is 6.30 p.m. A speed session for all members of all ability and a COVID secure environment for members only - please book in on the App

Good luck to those of you that have a place in the Couriers 5 k - see you all in a few weeks.

Cotswold Way Relay 2021. 3rd July 2020

We hope to enter a team - or maybe two - for this years Cotswold Way Relay. Jan Edwards and Brian Symonds are stepping back from leading on the event this year - huge thanks to them for all their hard work to make the CWR such an embedded part of the club race calendar.

For new members, the CWR is a one-day inter-club competition following the Cotswold Way footpath. Each leg varies in distance and challenge -check out the website for full details. It is an inspiring event with a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere. Please note, however - even the gentler legs are challenging - this is not for inexperienced runners and you should be able to run around 10 miles comfortably before attempting to take on a leg.

This year we are going to organise things a little differently and we need everyone’s help to make this work.

Here’s the plan.

Please look at the event website here - read it carefully please as there are new rules for all runners that you must sign up to - for example - you must carry water and you need to sign up to an app.

If you agree to the race rules nip over to the club App and register your interest before the end of the Bank Holiday Monday 5th April.

By signing up you agree to take on responsibility for your leg, for your travel plans and for arranging cover should you become injured or unavailable at short notice. The club will help make this process as easy as possible! More detail on all of this later - for now we just need a firm commitment.

The club will subsidise all runners - but we still need a payment of £10 a head - BACS details to follow.

We will then enter a team or two depending on demand.

We will put up a signup sheet on our website with a first come first served approach. We understand that everyone has particular legs they would like to do - however this year we would really appreciate flexibility- we can all talk to each other and renegotiate legs as it takes shape if necessary.

We will hear in May if our application has been successful - once we know that we will be in touch, ask for your tenners , hold a team zoom, set up a Whatsapp team group, maybe do a few recce runs and generally get ourselves geared up.

How does that sound?

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Spring and Summer Training Programme resumes

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We are delighted to welcome back our Spring and Summer Training Programme starting on Wednesday 31st March.

On Wednesday 31st March - meet at Castle Green at 6.15 PM.

We will take a run up the Riverbank towards Hampton Bishop to the 3.1-mile mark - we turn around and head back towards Castle Green - but with some effort on the return leg for a negative split.

Following the successful winter 2020 programme, we are planning a similar pattern over the Summer with the Club Run being off-road as much as we can.

We will try and offer a varied and interesting programme to ensure you get the most from your running.

The 4 weekly cycle through till October goes like this:

Week 1 - Off Road

Week 2 - Speed on the Track

Week 3 - Hills/Tempo Run

Week 4 Speed on the track

Rinse and repeat.

Members and new members are welcome. For now, we will run all sessions as COVID secure which means you must book in - members on the App please - new members just let us know you are coming. We will run in groups of six max.

Spring and Summer Training Programme launches soon

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With the promise of lock-down easing, we are looking forward to our club members Spring and Summer training programme 2021. If all goes well this is how it will look.

Week one Wed 31 march - club run - details to be announced. A Covid secure run to get us gently back into things - all welcome - no one gets left behind.

Week two Wed 7 April - speed session on the track at Halo Lesire Centre Holmer Road - a coached session for everyone - no matter how slow or fast you can go - or go run the Couriers 5k if you fancy a bit of early season racing.

Week three Wed 14th April - hill or tempo session to help build strength and endurance - led by an experienced member of the club - all abilities.

Week four Wed 21 April - back to the track for a speed session.

We then repeat the four-weekly cycle for the rest of the summer - hopefully, peppered with a bit of racing and maybe even some cross country.

Until all restrictions are eased we will run as COVID secure - so members only and book yourself in on our nifty app - it keeps you safe and keeps the club safe.

Come and join us - new and prospective members very welcome. It isn’t as daunting as it may sound and you can come and go as you please - no pressure.

Wye Valley Runners - Annual Awards 2020.

Dan Lewis - Most Improved Runner 2020

Dan Lewis - Most Improved Runner 2020

Becky Humphreys - Most Improved Runner 2020

Becky Humphreys - Most Improved Runner 2020

Best Running Performance 2020 - Ian Sockett - London Marathon on the Home circuit

Best Running Performance 2020 - Ian Sockett - London Marathon on the Home circuit

Paddy Nugent - Might Oak 2020

Paddy Nugent - Might Oak 2020

Ian Sockett had it all planned out - hitting 50, achieving his £30k lifetime fundraising target, running the 40th London - then everything changed. Undeterred Ian ran “The London” around numerous relentless laps around our city - an incredible effort and a worthy winner for the 2020 John Tarrant Cup for the Best Running Performance. Our thanks to NIkki Tyler for donating the cup in the original Ghost Runner’s memory. Congratulations Ian.

Dan Lewis continues to show us all how it’s done. In his usual understated style, Dan just kept on improving - a deserved winner of the blokes Most Improved Runner 2020.

Becky Humphries was a unanimous choice for the Most Improved Runner 2020 amongst the women in the club - consistent and constant. Well done Becky

Paddy Nugent - Mighty Oak winner for doing his bit for the club.

Chairman Martin with President Harry - obv photo pre COVID!

Chairman Martin with President Harry - obv photo pre COVID!

Martin was re - elected as chair for another year , Jan Edwards stood down after many years of support - thanks Jan - we love you - and Chrissy Wheeler Waller joined the rest of the committee who all stood again and will take our club forward as things begin to open up slowly over the summer.

AGM minutes will be sent to members in due course

Club TRAINING SUSPENDED

Following the latest Covid 19 restrictions we will be suspending all organised club training activities with immediate effect.
The planned speed session this week will not take place.
But running can continue - use the time as best you can to get out for some quality solo efforts.
Take care everyone. Let’s keep in touch, look out for each other and look forward to running together soon.

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Week 15. Winter TrainiNg. Wed 23 dec

For our final session of 2020 we take to the hills again. Meet at Castle Green at 615 for a one mile group jog to the hill rep start point. Then a half hour session for all abilities.
Obviously COVID security is uppermost in our minds. You must book in-preferably on the club app. This week Jerry leads the session.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at Castle Green at 615 Wed.

We are taking a break on Wed 30th - back to the track for a speed session on Jan 6th.

Membership fees - here's the plan

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It has been a tough year for us all and despite everyone's best efforts our running and racing programme in 2020 has been a shadow of its former self. However, the club has pulled together with some real success. Membership numbers continue to rise, we are seeing a good number of people at our track and road training sessions, we are settling into our new home at Halo Leisure Centre and our new club kit has been launched with our new online shop. Not bad at all for lockdown. Thanks and well done to everyone.


In recognition of the tough year, we have decided to try our best to keep members' subs to an absolute minimum in 2021.
Our annual fee of £25 is made up of two parts. £15 pays for your UK Athletics membership. This gives you full insurance when running with us, entitles you to race as a club member at a discount, and enables the club to register races that we organise. The other £10 is your club fee that pays for things like track hire, race equipment, and club running costs. The committee operates entirely voluntarily and no one benefits financially.


In 2021 we will drop the £10 club fee entirely and ask that everyone pays a reduced fee of £15 which will go directly to UK Athletics.

Some members who can afford it may choose to pay the full £25 to help the club during tough times - that is entirely optional.

New members joining us after 1st January 2021 will need to pay the full £25 -less than 50p a week!

For new members who have paid their fees in the last few months, we are happy to extend your membership right through until the end of 2021.

Membership is due from Jan 1st, 2021 and we will set up the membership page to accept the £15 option or the £25 option.

Week 13. Winter training. Wed 9 Dec.

This week it’s a club run - with a twist. Starting outside Halo Leisure Centre Holmer Rd at 615 on Wednesday 9th Dec.


We will head off for a six mile ish run round the city. But as the miles pick up so does the pace. Start very steady then at each mile point pick up the pace if you can by around 10% - then sprint for the last 400 metres. You should finish knowing you have worked, but not totally spent!

Don’t worry - this isn’t aimed at the speed merchants. It’s a session for everyone. No one gets left behind.
Look forward to seeing you all then and thanks to Phil for the suggestion.

Week 12 winter traiNing. Wed 2 dec

Welcome back to all club members to our winter programme. With our tier 2 restrictions it is really important we stick to the rules. You must book in, members or prospective members only and strict social distancing on the night itself.
This week is a speed session for all abilities- led by Peter Nugent. 615 for a 630 start. All abilities welcome. New members please message us with your details so that we can book you in for test and trace reasons

Looking forward to seeing everyone at Halo Leisure Centte Track , Holmer Rd - ready to go at 630.

Week 11 Winter Training - the Wednesday Wind Up

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This week we head for the hills - think of it a bit like weightlifting for runners - it builds essential strength to give you a stronger running core to work from. This is particularly important right now with little competition. It is all too easy to just go out for a gentle jog.

So, after a 10-15- minute warm-up incorporating six 100m strides, do eight to 12 repeats of a gradual hill.

Progress from a moderate effort lasting 1:45-1:50 to a hard effort of 1:30-1:35. Between each repeat, jog down the hill for 2:30-3:30. Finally, warm down for 10-15 minutes.

The jog down and rest is just as important as the effort so do not cut it short.

We have used Roman Road, Old Eign Hill - but obviously anywhere will do. Try it on the trails or in the woods for the extra effort. Enjoy and let us know how you get on.