Beginners Running Group 2020

Due to the restrictions imposed by Coronairus-19 the 2020 Beginners Group has been suspended, we hope to resume the sessions as soon as possible and hope that people are able to maintain their activity levels where possible. We look forward to seeing you all later in the year.

Please note NEW DAY & NEW VENUE.

Starting on Monday 20th January for 16 weeks.
Meeting at St Nicholas church hall (opposite the Barnes pub)
Starting at 6.30pm get there early to register.
Pay £10 upfront for the whole course or choose to pay £1 per week.

The primary aim of the course is to build up your endurance rather than speed (although that will likely improve as a by product). Our aim is to get everyone who sticks with the course to be able to run at least 5 miles without stopping – no matter what your state of fitness at the start. We will include additional running related exercises along with recommending other runs during each week as the course develops. The last 4 sessions will be an introduction to the sort of running sessions that you would experience on a typical Club night with the Sunderland Strollers should you decide to join the Club following completion of the course.

Sunderland Strollers will be organising the East Durham 5K once again on 23 Feb, race starts 10am. This is in support of the East Durham Trust who are, in turn, supporting a range of Couch to 5K programmes across the area. It is therefore an ideal first event for many in the Strollers Beginners Group. There will be loads of the Beginners Leaders either running or marshalling so loads of support on the course. The race starts and finishes at Noses Point car park in Seaham. Entry costs £10 but we have arranged a £2.50 discount for all members of the Beginners Group. All finishers will receive a t-shirt and medal. Go here to sign up.

24 Responses

  1. Craig Amer says:

    Hi there. I’d like to register for the beginners course please. Thanks very much

    • Harry Harrison says:

      Hi Craig

      No need to register, just turn up ready to run on the 20th at St Nicholas’ Church.

      Harry Harrison
      Club Chairman

  2. Christopher Liddle says:

    Hi unfortunately the 20th lands on a backshift for me. I was wondering if there is another start date to join the beginners course or if it was even okay to join when working 2 shift pattern.

  3. beverley fox says:

    hiya folks, I missed the first week is it possible to come next Monday?

    • Harry Harrison says:

      Hi Beverley

      yes, that’s fine. We accept starters up to Week 3. You’ve only missed one run so it won’t be a problem.

      Harry

  4. Anne Young says:

    Hi, are there any beginners groups on other days apart from Monday?

    • Harry Harrison says:

      Hi Anne

      I’m afraid not, we simply don’t have the resources. There are 2 Run Britain groups in Sunderland that can accommodate beginners all year round. The Silky Striders run from the Puma Centre while the SeaFront Smilers operate from the Grand Hotel at Seaburn. I think both of them run a couple of nights each week, not sure of exactly which nights but if you look them up on social media. They are both very friendly groups who will make you most welcome.

      Harry Harrison

  5. Phyllis Carlisle says:

    Hi is there any other day you do the beginners training apart from Monday ?

    • Harry Harrison says:

      Hi Phyllis

      I’m afraid not, we simply don’t have the resources. There are 2 Run Britain groups in Sunderland that can accommodate beginners all year round. The Silky Striders run from the Puma Centre while the SeaFront Smilers operate from the Grand Hotel at Seaburn. I think both of them run a couple of nights each week, not sure of exactly which nights but if you look them up on social media. They are both very friendly groups who will make you most welcome.

      Harry Harrison

  6. Amanda says:

    Hi are you planning on starting any beginner groups soon?

    • Harry Harrison says:

      Hi Amanda

      Our 2020 Beginners Group started just over 5 weeks ago and is now closed to any additional runners. We won’t be delivering another course until 2021 as with over 250 registrants this year it’s quite a task. There are 2 Run England groups in Sunderland who welcome new runners all year round and while they don’t operate a dedicated beginners programme they will help you get started. They are the Silky Striders (they run from the Puma Centre) and the SeaFront Smilers. You’ll find their details on Facebook.

      Harry Harrison
      Club Chairman

  7. Kath Henderson says:

    Hi. I joined last week and ran again this week I have tried to join the Fb group but can’t can u help plz x

    • Harry Harrison says:

      Hi Kath
      Could you apply to join again and I’ll add you to the group.

      Harry

      • Daniel gunn says:

        Hi, I was just looking through the internet for running groups within the Sunderland area. I understand there is a lockdown at the moment, however social distancing rules and covid regulations have been eased will this group be back up and running??

        Thanks

        • Harry Harrison says:

          Hi Daniel
          I’m afraid that we’ve recently taken the decision to abandon the 2020 Beginners Course and also not to make any plans for a 2021 Beginners Group. Unfortunately we are a victim of our own success and the numbers that such a group would generate are unlikely to be workable even in a post-lockdown period. We have to run the course Jan-Apr each year as at other times we struggle to generate sufficient run leaders.

          We will always remain open for runners to join the Club and hopefully we’ll be resuming Club activities next month. As a rough guide if you are capable of running continuously for around 5 miles at 12/13 min/miles then you would be able to join the Club direct rather than processing through the Beginners Group.

          If you are a complete beginner there are 2 Run England groups who welcome people all year round (COVID permitting), these are the Silky Striders and Seafront Smilers, you’ll find both groups on Facebook.

          Harry Harrison – Club Chair

  8. Nick Moses says:

    Are you able to let me know what the current state of play is in relation to membership and running nights… My niece is 19 years old she can run about 6 miles at the moment without stopping she is a half decent standard she is currently living with me because of Covid as she is not able to stay in University Halls and would love to join a running club to meet people and improve her running

    • Harry Harrison says:

      Hi Nick
      We’re back up and operating normal Club activities which you’ll find detailed on the website. Main Club night is Wednesday when we meet in Ashbrooke (we currently keep the groups separate to avoid a large crowd). The group that your niece is probably best starting with gather just up the bank from St Aidan’s School on Willow Bank Road at 7pm. All sessions are led by a qualified run leader and we never leave anyone behind. It’s a different programme every week, details on the website. Let me know if she’ll be coming along and I’ll let the pack leader know to look out for her.

      Harry Harrison
      Club Chairman

  9. Bethany says:

    Hi,
    I’m looking to run in a group because I found I run better with other people. I normally do parkruns but they’ve not been on due to covid. My last parkrun time was 38 mins for 5k. I’ve been doing running intermittently over the year and I’m doing about 3.2 miles in 30 minutes. Would this club be suitable to join or is it above my abilities at the moment?
    I’m not quite sure what the running club options are like up here because I’m a uni student who lives up here term time.

    • Harry Harrison says:

      Hi Bethany, apologies for slow response it’s been a busy few days. Your pace would certainly be enough to enable you to run with the Club. We’re more than willing to let you try us before deciding whether to join so take a look on the website for the details and come along. Of course parkrun is now back up an running and there are always loads of Strollers taking part. Hope to see you soon.

      Harry Harrison
      Club Chairman

  10. Hayley harding says:

    I would like to start a beginning stroller I hope it won’t be suspended for long and I hope I can tag along with yous

    • Harry Harrison says:

      Hi Hayley

      Our next Beginners Running Group will start in January 2023, not sure of the exact date yet but it will be Monday evenings from 6:30pm. Hope you can join us then.

      Harry Harrison
      Club Chairman
      Sunderland Strollers

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