Thank you for taking time to look at our starter group page
It may be that you are brand new to running or that you are returning after a few years away, but whatever your situation we’d like to wish you a very warm welcome.
Our starter group is a vibrant part of the Spartans, an initiative we began way back in 2007. An initiative from Dave and Tessa Stephenson to share their love of the sport – they still lead today !
In fact all of the coaches, who will be looking after you, are UK Athletics qualified and have previously been graduates of our starter group, so they know what it’s like to join your first group run.
We all remember walking through ‘that’ door for the first time. Thinking: Can I do this? / Will it be like cross country at school? / Will I ever improve? / Will I make an idiot of myself? / Will they shout at me?
Our Starter group is all about supporting and helping you on your running journey wherever that might take you. It is designed to get you going, a program of coached sessions that will move you from zero to hero in 10 weeks.
How does it work?
Well its simple, you have three, in person, coached sessions a week – FREE for the first few weeks.
Monday nights are led by Dave and Tessa – the orignials
Thursday evenings have a different feel with different coaches each week, all previous members of the Starter group
Saturday mornings are on Ridlins track, with Dave helping you to develop your technique.
At the end of 10 weeks – unless you are ready earlier – we will support you on either a club 5k or a local Park Run
We know what you are thinking, what happens if I miss a session? Well, to give you the best chance of success you need to make as many as possible – but life does sometimes get in the way, and if it does, you just come to the next one – we will support you, whatever you want to achieve.
- You might want to run a 5k continuously – we can do that for you
- You might just want to have some like minded friends – we can definitely do that
- You might just want to get a bit fitter – running is great for that
- You want to run a marathon – we have done that with multiple starter runners
- You may just want to feel accepted – everyone is welcome at the Spartans
And after the 10 weeks – well you’ll be a runner then !! hopefully you’ll want to join the main club and our other club sessions through the week
Your next step is to get in touch
Contact Tessa on 07870960174 or email: startergroup@fvspartans.org.uk
Meeting point info;
Thursday – Stevenage Cricket & Hockey club, Ditchmore Lane, Stevenage SG1 3LJ
Saturday – Ridlins Athletics Stadium, Woodcock Rd, Shephall, Stevenage SG2 9LX
Mondays – Totem pole car park – what three words (handy.taped.onions)