Do you know someone who would like to start running but doesn’t know where to start?
Are you interested in volunteering with beginners or even learning to lead runs or to coach for the club but don’t have any experience of what this might involve?
The Ealing Eagles Beginners Programme has proved very popular (invitations to the May 2017 programme have been sent out to over 80 people who went onto the waiting list since the last programme in February 2017). The programme starts with run/walking with all the running at a comfortable pace at which people can talk and gradually builds up to the short club run.
Beginners don’t need to have any special equipment to start or to have any particular level of fitness or to be able to run a certain distance to qualify – they just need to turn up on the day with enthusiasm and a commitment to follow the programme! Our experience is that most people will take six to eight weeks, going out twice a week, to progress from not running at all to running 5k.
Fixed length beginners’ courses will be starting in May as follows:
The meeting point for the sessions will be the gazebo-like structure by the café / play area in Walpole Park. (There is no clubhouse so please arrive dressed ready to run. If you have any bags with you, you can leave them in Crispin's Wine bar on Wednesday evenings or in FarmW5 on Thursday mornings. Both of these businesses are located opposite Ealing Green.)
In addition to the run / walking element of the programme present in all Eagles beginners’ programmes, some of the sessions in the next programme will include units focusing on running technique.
The sessions are led by our experienced coaches who are qualified UKA Leaders in Running Fitness. Some beginners’ leaders specialise in working with beginners; others started with beginners and have moved on to leading sessions for the club as whole; while others work with both groups. The qualified leaders are supported by a team of volunteers – some simply enjoy encouraging new people to start running while others are inspired to take on other volunteering opportunities. It is not essential for volunteers to be available for the whole programme though obviously volunteers who attend more sessions will find it easier to get to know the beginners. Eagles interested in volunteering with either beginners or the club as whole can gain experience with beginners in a variety of training roles including: run leading; leading warm-ups or cool-downs; or working with a small group of beginners.
If you are on facebook, there is a dedicated facebook group for beginners’ volunteers.
There will be a meeting for anyone interested in volunteering with beginners on Wednesday 26 April after the club mile (so probably about 8pm) at the Plough on Northfields Ave. If you can’t make that time, we will also be in FarmW5 on Thursday 27 April from about 11.45am for lunch. Please email beginners@ealingeagles.com if you would like more information.