The 2024 Aldridge 10k is only 5 weeks away - enter here
Current Tuesday Schedule can be found here.
Details of Summer routes here.
Tuesday runs - we meet at the Stick & Wicket at 7pm. Please make sure you sign in on arrival. In case of an emergency during a run scroll down for information.
Details of all our current sessions will shortly be transferred to the club app. This will be where club members will find details of Tuesday club night schedules and upcoming races - don't forget to make sure that any races you have entered are logged on the app so that others can see what is available.
As well as regular steady runs we offer two additional training options, which focus more on interval-based training. The Improvement Group, led by Lucy Baker, Henry Simpson and Tim Farmer, originally focussed on improving 5k times and is suitable for all runners who want to improve, especially those who have never done any focussed training before. The Race Training Group sessions, led mainly by Daniel Day, tend to be rather longer and more suited to more experienced runners. To gain the full benefit of these groups it is advisable to have a running watch and to know how to programme workouts, but there are plenty of members who will help you with this if needed. If you want to know more just speak to one of the leaders identified above. Both groups are open to all club members who want to improve their running, regardless of current performance - one benefit of running intervals around a short(ish) loop is that the whole group stays together regardless of speed.
Thursday 4-mile social runs are also available, starting at 6.30pm from the gate and a faster group usually goes out from the Whitehouse pub corner - see Michael Morley.
Details of all our current sessions will shortly be transferred to the club app. This will be where club members will find details of Tuesday club night schedules and upcoming races - don't forget to make sure that any races you have entered are logged on the app so that others can see what is available.
As well as regular steady runs we offer two additional training options, which focus more on interval-based training. The Improvement Group, led by Lucy Baker, Henry Simpson and Tim Farmer, originally focussed on improving 5k times and is suitable for all runners who want to improve, especially those who have never done any focussed training before. The Race Training Group sessions, led mainly by Daniel Day, tend to be rather longer and more suited to more experienced runners. To gain the full benefit of these groups it is advisable to have a running watch and to know how to programme workouts, but there are plenty of members who will help you with this if needed. If you want to know more just speak to one of the leaders identified above. Both groups are open to all club members who want to improve their running, regardless of current performance - one benefit of running intervals around a short(ish) loop is that the whole group stays together regardless of speed.
Thursday 4-mile social runs are also available, starting at 6.30pm from the gate and a faster group usually goes out from the Whitehouse pub corner - see Michael Morley.
This week's Club News:
ARC had 69 parkrunners and walkers on Saturday May 4th, with 20 at Walsall Arboretum, 6 at Sutton Park, 14 at Chasewater, 4 at Beacon and 3 at Perry Hall at Brunswick Park.
Well done to this week's top-10 finishers: Stephen Marshall (3rd), George Brizell (4th), Steve Blakemore (9th), Luke White (10th) and Joanna Stephens (10th lady), also to those who gained an age grade in the top 10 for their event: Michael Morley (4th), John Pearce (6th), Steve Blakemore (7th), Tom Neal (8th), Eddie Evert (9th) and Mark Shaw (9th).
Congratulations to George Brizell, who completed his 50th parkrun this weekend.
Well done and thank you also, to all those other members who volunteered at a parkrun this weekend.
Our runners:
Congratulations to members who raced over the previous week long weekend, where the outstanding achievement of the week was undoubtedly from Carl Nicholls, who completed 100 miles along the Thames, although the week also saw another GP race another marathon some age-category wins, a new club age-group record and some well-deserved PBs:
Well done to this week's top-10 finishers: Stephen Marshall (3rd), George Brizell (4th), Steve Blakemore (9th), Luke White (10th) and Joanna Stephens (10th lady), also to those who gained an age grade in the top 10 for their event: Michael Morley (4th), John Pearce (6th), Steve Blakemore (7th), Tom Neal (8th), Eddie Evert (9th) and Mark Shaw (9th).
Congratulations to George Brizell, who completed his 50th parkrun this weekend.
Well done and thank you also, to all those other members who volunteered at a parkrun this weekend.
Our runners:
- Walsall Arboretum: Mark Shaw, Tom Neal, Simon Rhodes, Peter Dimbleby, Marcus Nye, Trevor Harris, Colin Nicholls, Katrina Wyke, Shelley Nicholls, Roxy Babla, Abby Wright, Jessica Jungklaus, Barinderjit Cheema, Angela Oury, Mark Chapman, Harshad Patel, Nicola James, Emily Grimwade, Lucy Baker and Rebecca Steele.
- Sutton Park: Stephen Marshall (PB), George Brizell (PB), Gemma Archer, Sarah-Anne Fitzsimmons, Emma Preston and Mark O'Rourke.
- Chasewater: Steve Blakemore, Louis Hinton (PB), Martin Wall, Joanna Stephens, Thomas Edwards, Christopher Boden, Tom Glibbery, Rachael Jones, Rebecca Beale, Kay Mchugh, Kat Stevenson, Michelle Morgan, Simon Brown and Amy Johnson.
- Beacon: Stephen Grice, Henry Simpson, Chris Waple and Karen Waple (PB).
- Brunswick Park: Liam Bradley, Tracey Sprules and Barbara Johnson.
- Tamworth Castle Grounds: John Pearce and Edward Morris (PB).
- Perry Hall: Edward Evitt, Rachel Antoine.
- Cannock Chase: Luke White, Michael Morley, Nicholas Beach (PB), Terry Hastings and Gill Hastings.
- Rosliston: Mandy Brassington.
- Wolverhampton: Tony Baker.
- Shrewsbury: Simon Hudson and Jo Yarnall.
- Alvaston: Steve Hammond.
- Leamington: Eamon Lyons and Sarah Lyons.
- Ludlow: Leigh Sprules.
- California Country (Wokingham): James Nelson.
- Preston Park, Brighton: Geoff Card.
- Haverfordwest: Richard Moore.
- Riverside Walk (Powys): Robert Foster and Lynda Elmore.
Congratulations to members who raced over the previous week long weekend, where the outstanding achievement of the week was undoubtedly from Carl Nicholls, who completed 100 miles along the Thames, although the week also saw another GP race another marathon some age-category wins, a new club age-group record and some well-deserved PBs:
- Thames Path 100: Carl Nicholls (23 hrs 5 mins)
- DK10k (GP): Michael Morley (00:38:53, 1st MV55), Mark Shaw (00:39:35), Philip Brayford (00:41:47, 1st MV60), Steve Hammond (00:46:23), Claire Crook (00:46:38, PB), Helen Beecham (00:48:03), Rachael Jones (00:49:52), Michael Mason (00:50:17), Joanna Stephens (00:51:21), Nicky Jones (00:52:42), Leigh Sprules (00:54:57, PB), Matthew Hillback (00:56:26), Sue Baker (00:56:35), Wendy Sargeant (00:57:10), Andrew Birkbeck (00:57:46, PB), Anne Kelsall (00:58:15), Catherine Birkbeck (00:59:47, PB), Simon Hudson (01:00:24), Thomas Edwards (01:02:08) and Jane Quinn (01:08:21, new club FV70 10k record).
- Great Birmingham Run (10k): Matthew Hillback (00:50:42), Edward Morris (00:54:42), Mark Johnson (01:11:53),
- Great Birmingham Run (HM): Adam Benjamin (01:28:41, PB), Neil Day (01:29:19, PB), Andrew Pullen (01:37:21), David Roberts (01:42:29, PB), Ian Jennings (01:50:41), Lucy Farrington (01:54:08), Michael Mason (02:02:15), Mike Donoghue (02:02:29), Unkown Member (02:05:31), Barinderjit Cheema (02:08:30), Roxy Babla (02:08:33), Sally Gordon (02:09:54), Elizabeth Freeth (02:12:16), Anne Kelsall (02:16:47), Unkown Member (02:22:24).
- Milton Keynes Marathon: Marcus Nye (03:33:36, PB)
- Roger Bannister Community Mile: Pete and Lisa Dimbleby
2024 in (some) pictures will be built up over the year below: Hover over the main photo and press 'play' to scroll through photos of events so far this year, or click on the thumbnails.
We like to think of ARC as a friendly, supportive club and we are gaining a reputation for the enthusiasm of our support. The video clip below, taken from Cannon Hill Park, on the route of the Birmingham Marathon and Half on October 15 2017 shows us at our best. Some of the supporters had entered one of the races but had to pull out due to injury but instead of moping about it they came and cheered on all those who were running, despite the logistical difficulties of getting there with all the road closures. Well done Sarah Hinkley and crew!
Information for members:
Emergency? DIAL 999
Click here to find your nearest defibrillator
Help us give credit to all who take part in races by letting us know your achievements. Email using this link by Monday lunchtime please.
See the Diary section for races that we know about, either local or that our members have enjoyed in the past. Social events now have their own page here .
We also have a regular walking group. More details are on our About ARC page. All welcome.
See the Diary section for races that we know about, either local or that our members have enjoyed in the past. Social events now have their own page here .
We also have a regular walking group. More details are on our About ARC page. All welcome.
New Members
If you are new to running or looking to improve we can help & support you all the way. To find out more, check out the About ARC page and the New Members section.
Club Training Plans
Members of the Race Training Group generally work through programmes designed by club members, targeted at specific races/distances. These are aimed at those who have already completed the target distance and want to improve their time. They are not full training plans but they outline two 'effort' sessions a week, which can be done with others.
The current Tuesday sessions can be found within the general club Tuesday routes plan here.
When reading the plans, "off" shows the recovery between efforts, so "1k, 800m, 600m, 400m off 2mins, 3 mins
between sets" means "1k effort, 2 min recovery, 800m effort, 2 min recovery, 600m effort, 2 min recover,400m effort, 2 min recovery, 3 min rest then repeat." Recovery can be jog or walk, or a mixture, depending on individual fitness and preference. The length of recovery can also be adjusted if necessary. 'Tempo is generally defined as a pace you can comfortably keep up for about an hour.
Obviously these plans can be started at any time and/or adapted to meet individual needs. In particular, slower runners can benefit from the plans but would need to reduce the number of repetitions (sets) or the individual distances in most of the sessions. If you just want to try out some efforts sessions to make your training a bit more interesting and productive there are a good number included here that you can try.
Previous training programmes from this group are still available. Two Half-Marathon plans are here and here, whilst a 10k plan is here and a 5k training plan is here.
The current Tuesday sessions can be found within the general club Tuesday routes plan here.
When reading the plans, "off" shows the recovery between efforts, so "1k, 800m, 600m, 400m off 2mins, 3 mins
between sets" means "1k effort, 2 min recovery, 800m effort, 2 min recovery, 600m effort, 2 min recover,400m effort, 2 min recovery, 3 min rest then repeat." Recovery can be jog or walk, or a mixture, depending on individual fitness and preference. The length of recovery can also be adjusted if necessary. 'Tempo is generally defined as a pace you can comfortably keep up for about an hour.
Obviously these plans can be started at any time and/or adapted to meet individual needs. In particular, slower runners can benefit from the plans but would need to reduce the number of repetitions (sets) or the individual distances in most of the sessions. If you just want to try out some efforts sessions to make your training a bit more interesting and productive there are a good number included here that you can try.
Previous training programmes from this group are still available. Two Half-Marathon plans are here and here, whilst a 10k plan is here and a 5k training plan is here.