Training with Ranelagh Harriers

We're a harriers club - that is, we run on the road and cross country and don't have a track section of our own.

Our main club nights are Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday's sessions are aimed at people who want to improve but we cater for every level from new runners to elite runners and all distances from 5K to marathons. The session varies depending on the time of year and people's targets - come along and discuss your plans!
The Tuesday sessions start at 7.00pm from our clubhouse in Petersham, where you can change if coming straight from work. Wednesday's groups are of various speeds and set off from the clubhouse between 6.30 pm and 7.00 pm (fast pack) - usually into Richmond Park. The Park provides us with an ideal training environment; beautiful off-road running all year round, and a traffic-free road circuit for those dark winter evenings.        Tuesday Night Training Sessions

     Ranelagh athletes have competed in races from 400m on the track up to the ultra-tough Karrimor Mountain Marathon (2 days running/orienteering with an overnight camp). This range includes all the usual distances such as 5 miles, 10k, 10 miles, half-marathon, full marathon and all track events, as well as road and fell races.

There is also an opportunity to really strengthen your legs for the cross country season or to cope with marathon ambitions with weight training sessions at St Mary's College gym every Thursday from 7pm. Paula Radcliffe used weight training as part of her preparation for the London marathon in 2003 & 2005. The clubhouse is also available for use by individuals or groups at any other time.

New and Nearly New Runners

Every year we organise courses for women who want to take up running. Usually the courses start in May and last 8 weeks the women on the courses then are encouraged to join the club as improvers.
Everyone has to start somewhere and on Tuesdays, we have an improvers group for people who have recently taken up running. We make every effort to encourage new runners, and runners who may be coming back to the sport and perhaps do not feel very confident. We make a promise to all runners that you will never be left to run alone when we go out for training runs. We also promise that we will coach people at all levels and help them to improve.
Olympic marathoner Priscilla Welch started out in her mid-thirties as a jogger, so there's no telling where these first steps might lead!

Coaching

There are a number of UK Athletics qualified coaches within Ranelagh specialising in middle distance, cross-country and endurance running, who not only work with groups on Tuesdays and at track sessions but are also willing to coach individuals. Our sister club, St Mary's Richmond AC will coach anyone from junior level to masters in field events and sprints.

For more information about coaching for youngsters contact Frances Ratchford on 020-8943 9899.