We have just started our complete beginners (5th Sept)
It isn’t too late to join us. It is free for the first four weeks. Please book a session on our calendar page (next week will be released Thursday or Friday. Most people find it easier to do both sessions, but if you can only do a Tuesday or Thursday that will still work.
If you have done no (or very little) running and don’t think you can run, but really want to get started, the Club holds two complete beginners courses a year (April and September). If you are returning to running you may be able to join the current course please contact us so we can talk about what is best for you.
You’ll be encouraged to jog/walk, jog/walk for gradually increasing distances along with others in the same condition as yourself. You’ll soon be jogging continuously and ready to face longer distances.
YOU CAN START PREPARING FOR IT BY ENSURING YOU DO 2 or 3 BRISK WALKS OF 20 – 30 MINUTES EACH PER WEEK.
DO THEM BRISK ENOUGH TO FEEL A SLIGHT EFFORT IN BREATHING AND PULSE, BUT NOT TOO HARD!
During the first few sessions there will be advice on buying the right footwear, so please don’t rush out and buy new shoes for the first session.
However, if you have nothing then we would advise going to a sports shop that has trained staff and a treadmill. They can then check the movement of your feet and ankles when you run (the technical term is Gait Analysis).
A local shop that do this is:-
Osteopathy Stafford Mammoth Sports Injuries Clinic (You will need an appointment please check the current cost. Milford – 01785 664228). Please ring them before you travel.
Other places include by appointment only :-
Alpha Sports (Lichfield) alpharunning.co.uk 01543 410662
Running Form Shop (Burton) Running-form.co.uk 01283 563331
Running Bear (Alderley Edge) Book on line runningbear.co.uk 01625 582130
Your first session will consist of introductions, talk about our club, some basic rules, talk about the kit and then the first session. We will start by running and walking within the Cricket Club grounds. After about 4 weeks we will ask you to become a member of the Harriers.
If you have any questions please send me an email info@staffordharriers.co.uk
The group is open to anyone, if you have any medical history or you are unsure then please talk to your doctor before coming along.
WHERE
The group meets at the Cricket and Hockey Club at 6:15 pm each Tuesday and Thursday. If you can only make it one day a week you can still join but we will ask you to make up the missing session.
COST
There is no charge for your first 4 weeks, after that, we will ask you to become a member @£30. Membership will last until the end of December 2023
BOOKING
As with all our training sessions, you must book a place for each session you want to attend.
The training plan
The group meets at the Cricket and Hockey Club at 6:15 pm each Tuesday and Thursday. If you can only make one day a week you can still join but we will ask you to make up the missing session.
| Week 1 | Tuesday 5th Sept |
| Thursday 7th Sept | |
| Week 2 | Tuesday 12th Sept |
| Thursday 14th Sept | |
| Week 3 | Tuesday 19th Sept |
| Thursday 21st Sept | |
| Week 4 | Tuesday 26th Sept |
| Thursday 28th Sept | |
| Week 5 | Tuesday 3rd Oct |
| Thursday 5th Oct | |
| Week 6 | Tuesday 10th Oct |
| Thursday 12th Oct | |
| Week 7 | Tuesday 17th Oct |
| Thursday 19th Oct | |
| Week 8 | Tuesday 24th Oct |
| Thursday 26th Oct | |
| Week 9 | Tuesday 31st Oct |
| Thursday 2nd Nov | |
| Week 10 | Tuesday 7th Nov |
| Thursday 9th Nov | |
| Week 11 | Tuesday 14th Nov |
| Thursday 16th Nov | |
| Week 12 | Tuesday 21st Nov |
| Thursday 23rd Nov | |
| Week 13 | Tuesday 28th Nov |
| Thursday 30th Nov | |
| Week 14 | Tuesday 5th Dec |
| Thursday 7th Dec |
The last groups
April 2023 group started with 17 people
Sept 2022 group started with 10 people
April 2022 group started with 8 people
No Sept due to Covid
May 2021 group started with 10 people
Sept 2020 group started with 25 people
April 2020 the event was cancelled due to Covid lockdown
The Sept 2019 group started with 9 people
The April 2019 group started with 11 people
The Sept 2018 group started with 23 people
The April 2018 group started with 15 people
The Sept 2017 group started with 16 people
The April 2017 group started with 21 people
The Sept 2016 group started with 18 people
The April 2016 group started with 24 people
The Sept 2015 group started with 37 people
The March 2015 group started with 18 people.
The Sept 2014 group started with 14 people.
The April 2014 group started with 38 people.
The training plan
To check the schedule or start it if you can’t make the beginning of the sessions open this document.
complete-beginners-training-plan
April 2023 Course
September 2022 Course
April 2022 Course
Sept 2020 Course
April 2019 Course
The complete beginners group started 14th September 2015
Messages from previous people that have done the beginners course:-
“Back in September 2013 I saw that Stafford Harriers were starting a beginners session – I hadn’t run since I was a teenager and now at 34 weigh more than I used to. A friend who is a runner convinced me to try the beginners session. That was 18 weeks ago – I only knew 1 person and couldn’t run half a mile. I can now run 4.5 miles in 1 go and have many friends and the support of fellow beginners. I have lost about a stone since I started running and my health is great. I would recommend the beginners course to anyone who wants to start running but doesn’t think it is possible. Myself and many others are now running 3 times a week and can run between 4 and 5 miles – something we never thought possible. The support of the coaches, other runners and beginners has been amazing and continues to be the main thing helping drive me on – it is not to be underestimated. No matter how poor you think you may be at running everyone is always there to help you get to the finish of whatever run you may be doing. They will never leave you to run alone.”
Here are a group of past members of Complete Beginners – who ran the Race For Life at the County Showground BEFORE they finished our course:
