Club sessions
The core of the club's activities is the Wednesday Evening Club Night at Maiden Castle, the Sports Centre of the University of Durham. We meet just before 7pm and run at 7pm following a few short announcements. Most Wednesdays several groups of different abilities will run out for anything from 30 to 90 minutes. Following the Wednesday run many members go for a drink and something to eat at the Court Inn in Durham.
There are a few other activities on some Wednesdays through the year:
- Club Run
- On the first Wednesday of each month there is a club run when all the runners go out as a single group with the faster runners looping back to collect the slower runners. The club run is an excellent opportunity to get to know new faces in the club and to find your pace. Most club runs are from Maiden Castle but a few times during the summer months they'll be outside of Durham city. These away days will usually be followed by a barbecue or meal at a suitable pub.
- Handicap
- During the months from May to August there is an organised club handicap usually on the second Wednesday of each month. This handicap takes place over a fixed course of 4.5 miles with runners set off at different times according to their ability.
- XC Training
- In late summer and autumn there are regular cross country training sessions in preparation for the season's Harrier League.
- Track Sessions
- These interval training sessions take place from 7:15 to 8:15. See the track session page for more details of what is involved.
- Headtorch Runs
- During the winter months there are head-torch runs for those who want to continue to run off-road when the nights have closed in.
Also, there are other regular runs on other days of the week:
A regular Saturday morning usually takes place on Waldridge Fell, starting promptly at 9:00 am, though they do wait a few minutes if expecting someone who hasn't arrived yet! Although a hard-core of 4 or 5 runners have been turning out on the fell for over 20 years it is open to anyone to join in and people come and go as it suits or injury/ fitness/ other commitments permit. It's a casual, relaxed off-road run of between 45 mins to an hour, at no faster than 9 minute mile pace, on paths and trails with a few ups and downs but no significant hills (they walk them if they seem too steep on the day), covering Waldridge Fell and surrounding woods/ fields/ farmland. It's beautiful in parts, with the occasional sighting of deer and other wildlife, good training, useful for anyone doing cross-country, trail or fell running, or as a taster for anyone who is thinking about venturing offroad.
For those who don't know the area, Waldridge Fell is between Durham and Chester-le-Street, signed from the A167 at Chester Moor roundabout, take the left fork at the next roundabout. Turn left at the T-junction, after passing the garden centre. Runners meet in the first car park on the left. Map here. Nice set of photos from Waldridge Fell by Nigel here. Any further queries talk to David Shipman on Wednesday nights or give him a ring on 07717 815249.
On Sunday mornings there is usually a Long Slow Run group meeting at the Broom Park picnic area (pdf). For both Monday and Sunday runs any information or changes will be advised by email to the club email list beforehand.
In addition to all these there might be more ad hoc club nights including orienteering, hashing, and whatever anyone else can think of to organise.
For details of what is happening this coming week keep an eye on the Snippets column on the website home page.
