Beginners Course 2010

 

The annual Beginners’ Course started on Monday 12th April with a record turnout of 129 beginners the first session.  The course will run every Monday for a total of 9 weeks.  Additional optional sessions also take place at 8:30am on Saturday mornings.

Photographs are available at: Beginners Photos 2010

It is not too late to join.  If you have missed the first session and still want to start running then come along on Monday 19th April and you will be able to register (arrive early and ready to run).
The course is suitable for all abilities.  If you’ve never run before and would like to give it a go or if you’re currently running on your own and would like to try running as part of a club,
come along to  have some fun and make new friends whilst getting fit.

The cost of the course is £10.  Should you wish to carry on running and join the club this will be deducted from the membership fee.

All training sessions start and finish at the Heath Rugby Union Club, West Vale (near the garden centre) Click here for map

For further information email beginners@stainlandlions.com or telephone Diane on 01422 350656 or Genevieve on 01422 361639

                                     

            Diane - Beginners Captain                  Genevieve – Vice Beginners Captain

Useful Documents

·         Club Handbook

·         Beginners Guide

·         Beginners Course Poster

·         Beginners Course Entry Form

·         Stretching Exercises Guide

Quotes from previous beginners and now current and active club members:

Brian Conroy:  I was persuaded to join the beginners course 4 years ago by Terri my daughter in-law who had just signed up.  I was apprehensive on my first run as at 55 years old I thought it might have been out of my league.  I was made to feel very welcome and even on my first run the club president Colin Hughes ran with me and offered encouragement and support.  From that day on I was hooked on running and have never looked back. In my first year I managed to run the Great North Run and the Liverpool half marathon.  Since then I have done lots of 10k runs half marathons and last year the Edinburgh full marathon. The sense of achievement is wonderful and I will never forget the feeling I had when crossed the line on my first big race.  But it is not just the running that makes this sport attractive it's the friends you make. I have met some smashing people while running from Heath on Mondays and Thursday and had some good social times as well.  The real bonus is running keeps you fit in body and mind keeps your weight down and your self esteem high.  We have a level at Stainland lions for all who would like to try running so please do not feel you will not be able to cope.  Come down and give it a try I am sure you will not be disappointed.
 
Debbie Whiteley:  I joined the beginners club last year and I can't believe how soon I felt like part of a family. On the first night I drove down the drive to Heath I was so nervous but as soon as I got out of the car someone came and talked to me and showed me what do. Running with the Stainland Lions has given me the greatest sense of achievement, I can remember the first couple of weeks I couldn't run to Salterhebble roundabout without having 5 stops and then one week I did it one the smile on my face, the same with running the incline from Elland Bridge to West Vale (past the factory's) I managed it with no stops one week and I was grinning from ear to ear and probably told anyone which would listen. It is these small achievements which brightened my normally very dull day! Plus I got fit in the process.

Genevieve Thompson:  I signed up for the the beginners course in 2007 because I found that when I tried to run by myself I always lacked the motivation to go very far or very regularly.  The beginners course meant that I consistently improved over the 8 weeks and got home every Monday night on a high because I had pushed myself further than the previous week.  I have since joined the Stainland Lions and am now training for the Edinburgh Marathon.  I would never have considered this a few years ago but with the support and encouragement of the people I run with in the club I feel that anything is possible.  Such a friendly bunch of people have ensured that I have returned to running after having a baby last year - I couldn't wait to be out running again with the club - and because the club caters to all standards of running I have been able to start back with the steady group and work myself up to faster groups without holding anyone else back or being left behind.