Joining a running club in a new area can be daunting even if you are a regular runner, so when I moved down to London only to find more running clubs in one area than there was in Manchester and Leeds combined, suffice it to say it was hard to narrow it down.
I decided that it made sense to find a club close to work as most seem to start at 7pm and with tube being as reliable as ever, it was best to aim for something commuteable on foot. This is when I discovered the Mornington Crescent Chasers. Not only is this club affliated to England Athletics, but it also offers hill, track and road running combined no matter what level you are currently training at.
My first session was last Tuesday, having been a member of Trafford Athletics Club in Manchester, I was expecting 10 - 20 people tops, nope, not in London, a staggering 50 people arrived and apparently this was a slow night!
We split off into groups according to speed and what event we were training for. Intervals, threshold session and 8 mile hill runs were in the mix and as getting in the miles is my main aim at the moment, I went with the 8 mile hill run.
We started at a 8.15 min mile pace, faster than my usual training runs, but great to test oneself. Suffice it to say when we hit Highgate I was flabbergasted at the sheer length of the hill. I didn’t even know hills like this existed in central London. I puffed and panted my way to the top thinking perhaps this was the worst of it, but off we want to Hampstead Heath for further hills. By the end of the run I was exhausted but exhilarated and determined to take on that hill again next week, this time without having to walk the middle.
The group itself was very friendly with runners of all ages taking part. Sessions take place on a Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm and are located by Kentish Town West tube station.
There is no better way to improve your times than by running with a club. It’s here you are pushed to your limits and are given the encouragement needed to up your game in terms of training. The social element also adds value as you meet great people along the way.
To find out more, visit http://www.morningtoncresentchasers.com
