Training
We hold regular training sessions throughout the week. Please come along to as many as you'd like. Training is suited for all abilities, beginners are welcome, and there are plenty of people in the club training at various levels.
Circuit training is a great chance way to meet other members of the club and to find out what's going on that week.
Cross Country
Training is directed by coach Jackie Newton (former international marathon runner, England and GB team manager for mountain running, tutor and regional trainer for UKA Coach Education, performance running consultant for Puma (UK), contributor in the performance section of Athletics Weekly, Level 3 endurance coach, member of Stockport Harriers.)
The latest training plan can be found here.
Training runs are often broken into several smaller groups so that people can run at their pace. We have many 'traditional' runs around Manchester, come along to discover these with the safety of numbers.
When there isn't a race on the weekend there is usually a longer run that you can join in with whether this is around the city or out in the countryside. Remember, running is supposed to be fun! We wouldn't do it if it wasn't!
|
Day
|
Time
|
Venue
|
Activity
|
|
Monday
|
18:30
|
Armitage Sports Centre
|
Repetitions
|
|
Tuesday
|
20:00
|
Armitage Sports Centre
|
Club circuit training (open to all) - fun general fitness
|
|
Wednesday
|
14:30
|
Armitage Sports Centre
|
Run / repetitions
|
|
Thursday
|
18:30
|
Armitage Sports Centre
|
Steady run
|
|
Saturday / Sunday
|
Long run / race
|
Please get in touch with one of the Cross Country Captains if you have any questions.
Athletics
Please get in touch with one of the Athletics Captains for details of training sessions.
Training with coach Matthew Cullen at Sportcity Stadium
Monday: 7-9pm
Wednesday 3-5pm usually w/ circuits
Friday: 7-9pm
By Bus. Catcth the 216 service from piccadilly gardens
How to find
Armitage Sports Centre
Trafford Athletics Stadium
Somerfield, Piccadilly Gardens
Sportcity
Training Routes
These are a selection on our favourite routes. All routes start at the Armitage Center. To be safe you should always try to do your training in groups of two or more. Where this is unaviodable we reccommend you run during daylight hours. Distances are approximate.
Tesco run : 6 miles/ 9.5 km : Map
Named after said supermarket which is approximately half way round. Get the tedious bit out the way 1st, down Kingsway to Tesco. Then back up the Wilmslow Road through East Disdbury, and Withington.
Birchfields - Platt Fields : 5 miles/8 km : Map
This run makes use of the two big nearby parks, Birchfields Park and Platt Fields Park. It is common to do a couple of laps of Birchfields and a lap or two of Platt fields. There's plenty of variation available in terms of routes round the parks and number of laps.
Biscuit Factory : ? miles : Map
A route taking in the wonderful smells of the Longsight curry houses and the McVities biscuit factory. Don't do it on an empty stomach!
Cringle Fields : ? miles : Map
Twice round the small park, twice round the big. Prepare for the sweet smell of baking biscuits.
UMIST : 7 miles/11.5 km : Map
A medium distance run to the North Campus (formally UMIST). A common route during winter training as it stays mostly snow and ice free.
The Bullet Catcher : 5 miles/7.5 km : Map
A quick dash through Mosside and Hulme. Enough said?
Reddich : 8 miles/13 km : Map
A long run with a reasonable hill halfway.
Mersey Short : 6.5 miles/10.5 km : Map
If you're just starting to build up your distance this is a good one to do. Advisable to do it with someone who knows the way as its very easy to get lost!
Mersey Long : 11 miles/19 km : Map
A flat long run with many opportunities to increase or decrease the distance.
Mersey VERY Long : 15 miles/24 km : Map
If you've got nothing better to do for two or three hours try this one. An opportunity to make a water stop at about 11 miles (Longford Park) if you forget your water.
Trafford Training Warm Up : 5.5 miles/9 km : Map
A pleasant run on a summers evening (only drawbacks being running through a busy Fallowfield and the dazzling boredom of the railway). Run out along the disused railway line towards Chorlton, where those who wish to enjoy a track session at the nearby Trafford Athletics stadium. The return home is directly along Wilbraham Road. It is impossible to get lost on this route unless you are stupid and take Withington Road and the return via Mauldeth Road.
South Manchester Parks
In case you've ever wondered how big each park is
Platt Fields : 1.6 miles/2.6 km : Map
Birchfields : 1.2 miles/1.9 km : Map
Cringle (fields) : 0.8 miles/1.25 km : Map
Cringle (park) : 0.8 miles/1.25 km : Map
Ladybarn : 0.65 miles/1 km : Map
Fog Lane : 1 mile/1.6 km : Map
Alexandra : 1.1 miles/1.8 km : Map