FAQ

General Help

Newcomers

We welcome anyone that wants to run. We operate a “try before you join policy” you are invited to try any session over a two week period. After this time you must join or stop attending.

  1. Please select the most suitable group for your current ability (distance and pace).
  2. Check the News page for the time and location that the group meets.
  3. Check the location map to help you locate the meeting point.
  4. Turn up about 10 minutes before the start time and ask for the session leader.
  5. They will explain the session and answer any questions. They will explain Mustering.

RELAX have fun.

 

 

Junior age restrictions

We are registered under England Athletics to have people between 8 and 16. All our coaches and officials that are connected with the juniors all have valid DBS.

It is not possible for us to take people outside this range.

Membership Questions

  • All membership runs from 1st January to 31st December.
  • This means that no matter when first joined your membership will end 31st December.
  • People joining after 1st October have a reduced membership fee to reflect the short membership period.
  • Newcomers must join us or stop attending our sessions after two weeks of starting “try before you pay” period.
  • People must renew membership by the end of February or they will loose their EA membership.
  • How to join goto our membership page and fill in your personal details. Then go to the payment page and select your preferred method.

When is the next Complete Beginners Group

We hold two groups per year. Summer group usually starts in April. Winter group usually starts in September.

Our Complete beginners page will give more details.

If you want to attend the next course and it hasn’t yet started there is no need to contact us.

If you want to join an already started group then please contact us  or come to a session early and talk to us.

 

I haven’t run for some time will I need to join the complete beginners ?

Without knowing more information about you it is very difficult to be certain.

Age, weight and length of time since your last run will effect the effort required to return to running.

If it has been years since your last run then it may help to join the complete beginners in their last weeks to allow you to rebuild strength slowly.

Stretching and mobility

Stretching and mobility are keys to helping an athlete avoid injury and unnecessary pain.
A regular regime of stretching before and after running will help you to feel loose and relaxed whilst running and aid your body’s recovery time.
Mobility will give you more range of movement, increase the flexibility of joints and muscles and enable you to develop a fluent and relaxed running style.

MOBILITY EXERCISES

If they can be done as 30/45 second efforts with equal recovery three to four times a week after training they will help your body to become stronger and more flexible.

 

  1. Sit-ups – knees bent, feet flat on the floor, hands loosely across the chest
  2. Press-ups – try to keep your body straight and lock out elbows.(if you can’t do a full press up keep your knees on the ground )
  3. Squats – feet together, pull up to between arms and kick out straight
  4. Star-jumps – arms and legs straight, lift arms as you jump and push legs out to the sides
  5. Step-ups – use a step or bench about 20cm’s high
  6. Side-bends – stand upright, hand on side of your leg, keep back straight and stretch hand down leg, alternate sides
  7. Hopping – 10metres out/back then change leg
  8. Windmills – Assume position below, arms hanging loose, swing out to side and up as far as is comfortable and back
  9. Knee Jumps – Feet together, jump on spot, bringing knees up
  10. Back Stretch – Lie on the floor, push up as in a press up but keep hips on ground, lock elbows, hold for 10 seconds relax and repeat
  11. Leg Raises – Lie on back, hands at sides, legs straight, lift 15cms off ground hold for 10 seconds and relax, lower slowly and repeat x10

STRETCHING EXERCISES

Always jog a little to warm up before starting these stretches. Hold each stretch for 15/20 seconds. Don’t go past a point where it starts to feel painful. Never bounce stretches. Move slowly into each stretch. Try to stretch before and after running sessions.

 

  1. Lower Back – Lie on back, knees to chest hold for 15 seconds release slowly and repeat 3 times
  2. Back/Glut’s – Lie on back, pull knee across body and hold as shown, repeat 4 times each side
  3. Hamstrings – Lie on back, raise straight leg, pull slowly into stretch and hold, release slowly, repeat x4 each leg
  4. Calf/Hamstring – Sit with one leg outstretched and other foot against knee, put towel over foot and pull, hold and repeat on other leg.
  5. Calf – lean against wall, heels on ground, one leg forward and push hips towards the wall, repeat on other leg
  6. Calves – lean on back of a chair, both knees bent, one in front of other, heels on floor and push rear knee downwards
  7. Quads – Use wall to steady you, pull foot up to bottom and hold, change leg and repeat
  8. Hamstrings – Use steeplechase barrier or similar to try to keep leg straight, hold and repeat on other leg
  9. Abductors – Sit with heels together and push down on knees.
  10. Ilio tibial band – (band that runs down the outside of your leg from hip to knee) Bend leg over straight leg, use elbow, adjust raised knee and push slowly If you can make this routine a habit it will really help your preparation and help avoid injuries !!

DO’s and DON’Ts

DO’s

Warm up properly and make sure you stretch a lot
Wear appropriate gear and keep it clean and in good order
Keep more than one pair of shoes on the go at a time
Keep a record of your training and diet
Run with others as often as you can
Get support from your family, they will not see much of you for 3 months!
Check with your Doctor before you start the programme if you are either overweight or have been unwell

DON’Ts

Bolt out of the door and sprint down the road
Wear old worn out shoes – this will cause injury!
Run only on roads, get on the grass when you can
Eat too much fatty food or drink a lot of alcohol
Train if you are ill or injured, it will make things a lot worse
Run straight after a meal – unless you enjoy indigestion!
Run if conditions are very dangerous i.e. ice or snow

Top Twenty Tips

  1. Enjoy your running – do not over do it
  2. Always warm up and stretch properly
  3. Dress appropriately – be seen be safe and keep warm
  4. Look after your shoes.
  5. Try to run with others – it helps motivation
  6. Join a local club or running group
  7. If you feel unwell, don’t run – wait until you feel better
  8. If you are injured see a physio or massage therapist – never ignore injuries they don’t just go away!
  9. A sports massage once every two weeks will help keep you in good physical order
  10. Use the help-line for advice ~that’s what it’s there for
  11. Drink lots of water
  12. Watch your diet
  13. Keep a record of your training – you can then see the progress you are making
  14. Your training schedule is designed to prepare you to run the marathon, so take it seriously but don’t push yourself too hard too soon
  15. Always warm up well before races and jog to cool down afterwards
  16. Always tell your partner where you are running and carry a coin for emergency phone calls
  17. Don’t forget the sections on stretching and mobility
  18. Take care in icy condition
  19. Run off road on grass or tracks whenever possible, it reduced the risks of impact injuries
  20. Get loads of sponsors to help you raise funds for your chosen charity.

Training Snippets

  1. Build up distances and effort gradually over time
  2. Run as regularly as possible – but not too often
  3. Listen to your body
  4. Variety is the spice of life – don’t run the same routes at the same pace all the time
  5. Run off road as often as you can – a softer surface will reduce the impact on your joints
  6. Try to build a regular pattern to your training so your body and mind can accustom themselves
  7. Remember your muscles and joints need to recover from exertions – enjoy rest days
  8. Try a little cross-training on rest days – maybe swim or cycle or the gym
  9. Incorporate different types of training into your 1wk – 2wk training cycle – see later for ideas
  10. Record your training in a diary – a reminder of your achievements and encouragement to keep going !

Tips on kit

It is vitally important that you protect yourself against the elements and when you run at night make sure you wear some reflective apparel to be visible to vehicles.

Here are some key points to remember:

 

  1. Be seen be safe – wear light coloured reflective clothing
  2. If it’s wet, wear a lightweight shower-proof top over your training kit, several thin layers are better insulation than one thick one.
  3. Cover your extremities when its cold, wear gloves and a hat you lose more heat from hands and head than anywhere else.
  4. Make sure that your shoes are suitable, take specialist advice from a running store such as Run and Become or Sweat Shop to make sure that your footwear doesn’t hinder your progress, Dunlop tennis shoes will not get you round a marathon in any comfort, try to keep 2 pairs of shoes going at any time, then if one pair gets wet you have a dry option!
  5. Keep your kit clean and dry. Wearing damp kit is unpleasant for you and your running partners and can chaff your skin; runner’s nipple is not pleasant!
  6. If training or racing away from home carry a spare set of clean dry kit (including shoes) and shower kit. There is nothing worse than driving home in damp grubby kit and it can cause a chill.
  7. For race wear, never wear brand new gear, always wash it and wear it at least once before a serious outing.
  8. Always walk in a new pair of shoes for a week before running in them it helps avoid blisters and sore feet as brand new shoes are usually a lot stiffer than the ones they are replacing.
  9. Don’t be tempted to buy high fashion gear from non-running sports shops, it is not designed for marathon running and will certainly be a lot more expensive.
  10. If companies sponsor you, put their names on your training top – they love to see their names in print.
  11. Slightly loose fitting gear is more practical for running, keep skin tight gear for the post race party !

Sponsorship Help

What period does the Sponsorship cover?

Sponsorship period is per calendar year, January to December (12 months).

An exception for year 2023. Anyone who joins this now will be entitled to December 2024.

How to we make payment?

By credit card via our shopping page. Click Here

Do I get a receipt?

Yes, the treasurer will issue a receipt for payment, for line item “Sponsorship payment to Stafford Harriers for Year 20nn”

Can the payment be made in instalments?

No, full payment in advance.

Can we upgrade to another package?

Change to a higher package level will be accommodated if the slots have not be taken.

Can we downgrade to another package?

Change to a lower package level will NOT be accommodated during a calendar year. At renewal time, this could be an option.

Will funds be refunded?

We will follow a strict policy of no refunds.

Will Sponsor be able to direct how the funds are used?

Spending of funds raised from Sponsorship will be determined by the committee members ONLY. Just as all other expenditures are controlled.

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