Interested in joining us?

This page pulls together all the info that will be useful if you’re thinking of trying out WADAC (Winchester & District AC).

We’re very happy for you to try us out before you commit to joining – in fact we’d encourage you to.  Then, when you’ve been to two or three sessions, we ask you to join the club before doing any more.   When trying us out, you have various options, depending on what you want to do within the club – race, train, have someone to run with or all three.

For information about potential new junior members, please go to the juniors section. 

Club social runs – Wednesdays and Thursdays

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings there are several fluid groups of different speeds/distance who decide on the night where/how far/how fast they’re going.    New members are very welcome to come and join us on either of these evenings.  You need to be able to run for 30 mins without stopping – it doesn’t matter how fast or slow you are, there will always be someone to run with.  In fact the more the merrier, so bring a friend along, too!

Wednesday, River Park Leisure Centre, 6.50 for 7.10pm departure (directions):  meet upstairs outside the children’s ball play area.

Thursday, Clubhouse at Winchester Sports Stadium track (directions). Meet at 6.45 for 7pm departure. From 16th February 2012 there will be a 30 minute group run, ideal for people who are newish to running or a bit rusty. See here for more info.

On Thursdays there’s also usually a group going out to do a threshold/long interval session around the town. These are uncoached.  Meet at the track ready for 7pm departure as above.

Important! During the winter high viz clothing of some sort is essential.  In the spring/summer there are some great runs over the Downs and further afield.  We always make sure new people are accounted for, looked after and not lost!

Beginners and improvers

From time to time we run courses for total beginners. If there is demand we also run courses for people who are perhaps relatively new to running and want to tackle their first 5k or 10k race. If this sounds like you, please contact Moyna Lee.  You might also be interested in the info in this: Just caught the running bug? Wondering if you're ready to join a club?

Tuesday track/interval sessions

On Tuesdays there’s a choice of coached speed sessions, depending on your aims and fitness.  However, we suggest that unless you are a seasoned runner who’s used to this type of session, you don’t make these your first runs with the club.

Again, there are various options:

Autumn/winter/early spring 

• Hill and long interval sessions at various locations around the town.  These sessions are for fit (not necessarily fast!) runners used to this kind of session. Led by Alan Coveney.
• Track/grass sessions based at the track. Meet at the club house at 6.30. Drills at 6.50 ready to start at 7pm. These sessions are always adaptable for all standards and are ideal for you if you’re a regular runner but new to any kind of speed work. Led by Lou Walker and/or Karen Hazlitt.

Summer

• Track session as per the winter track sessions
• Grass session which is usually identical to the track session.  Running on grass is ideal if you're new to speed work (less impact on the legs) or coming back from injury or need a lighter session for whatever reason.

With track sessions the form is that everyone organises their own warm up jog around the field or local streets then joins together for drills at 6.45/6.50 ready to start at 7pm.

A note about Tuesday speed sessions

Speedwork, whether on the road or track, is hard on the legs and you need to build up to doing a full session gradually.  So if you’re looking to improve your speed or fitness, please don’t assume that Tuesday speed sessions are your only option. For example, it can be great training to start off with one of the social runs and try joining a group that runs slightly faster than you’re used to.  When you do start speed sessions, be prepared to take a conservative approach and not do the full session – much safer for your legs in the long term. The coaches will guide you.

Other weekly runs

• Saturdays – long, slow run, meet outside River Park Leisure Centre at 8am
• Saturdays in the winter  – hill training at Farleigh Mount or Fleming Park, Easteigh. Usually an 8.30, 9.00 or 9.30am start.
• Sundays - various long runs organised informally by club members. Best to ask around at social runs to find out who’s going where.

With sessions based at the track, park in the Park and Ride at Bar End  and walk across to the track on the path next to the football pitches. 

If you would like to come along to a session, just contact Alan Coveney (01962 882719 or coveneyalanjean@waitrose.com ) or Lou Walker  beforehand so that we can look out for you!



Membership Fees 2010-2011