Monday Primary Sessions
Head Coach : John Payne
Location : Holy Cross RC High School, Chorley
Age : 7 to 11 year olds.
Time : from 18:30 to 19:30ish.
Cost : £1 per child session payable at Holy Cross RC High School Sports Reception.
Tuesday Speed Sessions
Head Coach : Stuart Swann
Location : Road/Mult-terrain from 18:30 at various venues.
Time : from 18:30 to 19:30ish
Holy Cross RC High School, Chorley
All further venues will be as above unless otherwise stated.
Thursday Endurance Sessions
Head Coach : John Payne
Location : various venues around Chorley.
New dates coming soon.
Thursday Track and Field Sessions
Head Coaches : Stuart Swann and Frank Cook
Location : Horwich track, Bolton Arena.
Time : from 19:00 to 20:00ish
Cost : £1 per person per session
More photos here.
A Runner's Training Diary
23rd June 2009
Braving the summer weather (yes it did rain), a keen set of club members ventured out on to the moors above Brinscall.
Taking inspiration from the Great Hill Race (but at more a leisurely pace), many of the team made it up Great Hill (some for the first time ever!).
13th January 2009
At last an evening session with no ice and snow to contend with! Well over 20 athletes (incuding 3 new faces) faced the delights of Duxbury loops and hill.
Enjoyed by most (if not all) the session lead by Stuart got some favourable feedback, despite a few athletes nursing some sore legs from the weekend's Lancashire XC championship. Indeed, Vet 60 champion Barry Chester and Luke Betts under 15s qualifier from the aforementioned event, came along to support and encourage us lesser mortals ;-)
But seriously, the Lancashire XC event was well attended and raced by Chorley AC whihc will hopefully encourage even more to attend and run.
8th October 2008
The first evening session in the dark had a good turnout despite the poor weather.
A slow jog out from the Holy Cross RC High School was followed by some fast efforts around a small, estate based, circuit. This seemed to be enjoyed by young and old, depsite the dark, cold and rain.
The sessions are good training, but also a chance to meet and socialise with other runners. Why not come along and give it a try.
22nd July 2008
Phew, I suppose we shouldn't complain but tonight was hot and clammy. Doing circuts on hill above Birkacre lodges took its toll on me and others, but nevertheless it was a good turn out.
Due to changes at Holy Cross RC High School, we can no longer use this as a venue for meeting. The current proposal is to move the Wheelton Village Hall, where we will be able to find parking, toilets and some new good runs. Anybod familiar with the Thirsty Three or The Gallop races will know that the area offers some good, challenging routes.
w/c 12th May 2008
Tuesday night was held at the occasional summer training location of Worthington Lakes. Effort/recovery circuits around the large lake was hard work (and tricky around the twisty, undulating paths) but enjoyable. We also only managed to temporarily lose one person.
Not working in London for a change, allowed me to sample the delights of Thursday night track training at the Bolton Arena for the first time. The core activity was 200 metre sprints, with 200 metre jog back to start. The warm up, which lasted nearly 30mins, was invaluable in minimising sore legs for the day after. Next time I will bring spikes to try and minimise the bounce from the track surface.
23rd April 2008
Yipee ...at last the light evenings are back and we can run off road, and a trip down to Birkacre lodges was the plan.
The weather was great and the wildlife (including flies) was in abundance. Brownies were doing their walking badge, dogs and owners were stretching their legs and the local Coppull youth were doing 'something'. But, we were there to work and were doing 1 kilometer cricuits - 1/2 lap effort and 1/2 lap recovery. Despite this a lovely evening of running was had by all.
4th March 2008
Again, there was a good turn out on a cold evening, with no sign of the snow from the night before. Stuart had obviously been doing too much brain training because the complexity of the training program caused much confusion and discussion. How could running around one single circuit be so complicated? ... 1 effort, 1 recovery, 1 effort, 1/2 recovery, 1 effort, 1/2 recovery, etc. In addition to the hard physical and mental work that everyone had to cope with, there were added obstacles of dogs and learner drivers doing 1000 point turns.
Next week we will be meeting at the car park at the bottom of Water Street (next to The Swan with Two Necks pub) at the usual time of about 18:30.
15th January 2008
A moist evening (but no wind and snow as experienced the week before) did not deter 20 or so runners out on to the new bypass road for some rapid hill efforts. A very smooth and wide piece of tarmac next to Holy Cross School, possibly designed with runners in mind (did Terry have influence here?), is ideal for some 'hard labour' and coach Stuart is just the man to encourage such toils.
Runners of all ages and experience come along to the Tuesday sessions, and it is remarkable to see people siginificantly improving their performance over the weeks while having a good social outing with like minded people. Please feel free to join us ... no experience necessary.
11th September 2007
Unexpected cool conditions around the Worthington Lakes set the scene for the last of the 2007 time trials. Despite the conditions and a number of atheletes suffering with various leg injuries, some good times were recorded.
Of particular note were the runs of Paul W, Alex and Jeannette who significantly reduced their time trial times on the night.
Thanks to Stuart for doing the timings and the mathematics.
15th August 2007
"Big up!" the entrepid group of runners that met on a flooded car park during an unseasonal rain storm. Despite a route and circuits chosen to be under the cover everyone got soaked, but still managed to have a laugh about it.
Great to see Laura again at training :0)
18th July 2007
After 2 or 3 months of rain, the previous night's effort (for many) in the Interclub and the possiblity of suffering trench foot (due to continous wet weather), we decided to got for a nice canter along the canal towards Adlington. The sun peeked between the rather threatening storm clouds so life seemed good.
The canal run was not too bad but did include some puddle jumping. We then decided to take the scenic route back through Ellerbeck and Duxbury. Whilst pretty entertaining and scenic it was, we all got completely stung by brambles and nettles, soaked and covered in mud. Fields and tracks alike were in the worst state that any of us could remember. But I think we all enjoyed it.
For most of us, next Sunday will be spent cleaning the interiors of cars ;0)
19th June 2007
Well summer looks like it is over, but despite a stormy night twenty or so runners still trod the slippery paths of Duxbury and Birkacre.
Josh and Natt could be seen (in the distance) practising their free-running skill throught the woods, while us lesser mortals practised staying on our feet. Despite the wind and rain, the warm weather encouraged some quick running.
Next week will see some time trialling at Worthington Lakes.
1st May 2007
A great turn out tonight!
About 20 runners ventured down to the lodge for some fast 400 metre reps up a hill. Unfortunately, the lovely weather and surroundings did not make such efforts any easier.
10th April 2007
At last the winter darkness is banished for another 6 months or so, allowing offroad running :0)
Despite the council deciding to build a bypass road straight through one of our regular routes, we still managed to make our way down to Duxbury woods to some hilly, trail reps. Apart from the effort, the main obstacles were fallen down trees and midges.
Next week we will be meeting at Worthington Lakes.
27th February 2007
Spring is on its way! (allegedly)
Yet another good turn out of young and old were tested by Stuart having us do long efforts and short jogs between. It is noticable that runners (especially the youngs lads and lasses) seem to be getting faster with these regular weekly sessions.
The running is good but there was also some good exercising of the jaw muscles, with people recounting the previous weekend of racing (Lostock 6 and Standish Hall Trails), and looking forward to the next couple of weekends.
17th October 2006
I guess we had a typical winter's training night ... cold, wet and dark.
We all had previously arranged to meet at the Leisure Centre, but found the car park full so quickly relocate to the Water Street car park. Barry, having parked at Holy Cross school, ran across town to join us.
The session consisted of hilly loops around the area, being careful not to fall on the wet leaves.
We will be back at Holy Cross school next week ... hope to see you there.
3rd October 2006
Shame ... as Winter fast approaches running is now in the dark. Despite the rain, many CAC hardy soles met for their regular training.
Prior to the run Mike did a great job in 'selling' the virtues of entering the forthcoming 2006/07 cross country league races.
The training sessions consisted of running efforts around a circular course, much to the ameusement of local residents I am sure. There is no doubt that training is working for many people, as they are defnately getting faster; of I am getting slower :0(
12th September 2006
A change of venue tonight ... off went 20ush CAC runners to explore Worthington Lakes near Wigan. A humid night did not help 1.1km efforts but the change of scenary and newly laid gravel path made up for it.
A new starter (Emma) who has contacted CAC through the web site (no she does not seem to be a Geek!) did very well in managing to stay with the group in her first ever run. We hope to see her again.
29th August 2006
We all arrived as usual, but were quickly thrown into a minor panic because a leader (Stuart) had sent word that he was not coming tonight! After a little dicussion, a plan was hatched (drive by the need to stay off road because we had a dog with us), and off we went.
Despite the rain holding off, it was very poor under foot; thus confirming to us that winter was on its way. With the lead swapping, we explored new tracks around Duxbury and Birkacre.
We have a week off next week ... replaced by an Interclub race!
8th August 2006
Another wet one!
A tough but good session was directed by coach Stuart around the Birkacre lodges.
10 x (60 secs effort + 60 secs normal pace) + 10 x (30 secs effort + 30 secs normal pace) training tested both a runners ability to run and tell the time at the same time!
1st August 2006
A wet one!
... but a few (or should that be fool) hardy soles ventured out on the the banks of the Leeds Liverpool canal. Despite it being a little damp, the humidity and temperature was high, and the running was pretty easy.
John Payne, fresh from his European victory in Poland, came and showed the group his impressive Gold Medal and shared some insight into the what had happened there.
18th July 2006
PHEW - it was HOT!!
But despite temperatures in excess of 30oC a plucky party of 14 (great to see new faces at the training) sought a 'gentle' jog through the shade of Duxbury Woods and Birkacre lodges. A debate the merits of river running led to no action due to the purceived dangers. However, pulses and temperatures were set racing on the homeward bound journey when half the group decided to stretch their legs a little (all started by Emma!).
11th July 2006
Another pleasent evening's running in the delights of Birkacre ... or so we thought!
Most people (from the 16 or so runners) were suffering post-Roller/Doddle-jelly leg syndrome after Sunday's hard racing, but without too much persuassion we all trooped off for some speedy hill circuits. A small fracas with some of the Coppull locals (handled with consumate diplomacy by Laura ... not!) could not detract from some good fast, competitive circuits, followed by a steady jog (for some) back to Holy Cross.
What a great way to enjoy a lovely summer evening ;0)
4th July 2006
A very warm summer evening meant that we all decided to go down into Duxbury Woods to cool down. However, this time we followed Stuart's lead and ended up crawing through the undergrowth, going around in circles, swallowing flies and climbing a very steep embankment ; great training for Everest and jungle expeditions, but for a quick 5k road race? ;0)
Anyway, once we emerged from the woods (I don't think we lost anyone!), the group split up with one deciding to go back into Duxbury and the other heading off towards Birkacre and eventually returning to base camp at about 19:20.
Please come and join our next outing ... you (and we) never know where we will end up!
21st June 2006
A damp (OK - yes it was wet!) night did not deter a small (but perfectly formed) group of hardy men, women, juniors and dog from exploring the delights of the canal towards Adlington, Ellerbeck Quarry and Duxbury Woods. 'Lead' through unexplored parts of the North West by Barry (I don't need a GPS!) Chester the group just about made it back in time for the England vs Sweden World Cup match.
All good fun in the mud! Please come and join us every Tuesday.
2nd May 2006
Thanks to all the men, women and juniors that met on not so warm (but windy) evening at Holy Cross RC School.
The group went for a pleasent run through Duxbury woods over to Birkacre.
25th April 2006
Thanks to all the men, women and juniors that met on lovely, warm evening at Holy Cross RC School. The group went for a pleasent run along the canel towards Adlington. Then cut across to Duxbury Golf Course and back through the woods (a bit off road and steep hills to get the blood pumping!).
...and beyond
Training sessions (include adults and juniors) are well attended and the sessions are now being split to site different running styles and speeds.
Please join us on any Tuesday at 18:30. There are changing rooms available at Holy Cross RC School.