SMRAC distance - About Us

The site is designed to be useful for all distance runners at St Mary's Richmond Athletics Club. You will find track and cross-country fixture lists, results, training advice and links to external sites that may be of interest.

The site's second purpose is to keep the members of Noel and Dave's training squad up to date with what the group is up to. The squad is open to athletes of all ages and abilities.

On these pages there is information on training venues and times, upcoming races and various other details as they come up. It is worth checking the diary regularly!

The squad meets 2/3 times a week for running sessions and conditioning work. The aim of the coaches is to provide a strong squad system that allows athletes to be challenged as they develop physically and athletically. The squad system allows us to provide all the athletes with an appropriate mix of training stimuli in order to help them improve. We hope to keep training enjoyable but testing.

At an early age athletes are encouraged to participate in a wide range of sports to develop all round co-ordination skills, strength, and speed abilities. Any athlete wanting to discuss what running they should be doing away from the club environment or to get an individualised training programme should speak to the coach.

Middle and long distance athletics is a sport that requires a consistent, progressive approach. Those athletes that succeed as seniors are those that show a dedicated approach to their training. For that reason members of the group are encouraged to attend regularly rather than ‘drop in’ now and then. We do of course live in the real world and understand that school, work, and family commitments can keep you away sometimes.