Endurance competition group

In this group, the ability level is unimportant, but we expect a positive attitude towards training and competition.

There is a fee for using the track at Tilsley Park. A track pass is the most economical way to pay for regular users.

Who can join this group

The group consists mainly of athletes in the under-15 age group and upwards but includes seniors and veterans. The younger athletes will already have some background training, either via the club's fundamentals and transition group system, in other athletics clubs, at school or via other suitable sporting disciplines.

Some athletes in the under-13 age group also work with us, often part-time. These will typically be in school year 7, will have come through the club's group system and generally will have already competed regularly for the club in cross country or suitable distance events on the track. Some specialist endurance sessions might not be suitable for new athletes or younger group members, and in such cases, they would do general development and conditioning work instead.

There is a strong group ethos with athletes training together, having fun, providing mutual support and competing with and against each other. We see the wide range of age and experience as a strength because younger athletes can see and hear first-hand what might await them in future years.

This group's training programme is unsuitable for those with no recent background training. However, Abingdon AC offers beginners training courses throughout the year.

When and where

The endurance group trains outdoors throughout the year. We hold sessions at Tilsley Park track on Tuesday and Thursday evenings making use of the track and the surrounding grass areas. The sessions are varied to cover the different requirements of competitive distance running, including:

  • sustained speed

  • stamina

  • all-round strength

  • endurance.

We hold some sessions on the nearby cycleway in winter, switching to the local countryside in summer. We may hold a few midweek sessions during lighter evenings at locations such as Wittenham Clumps.

We make sure these 'off-site' sessions are safe.

Abingdon AC has sole use of the track, infield and throws area on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5.30 pm to 8 pm.

Session timetable

We expect endurance group athletes to begin their warm-up with gentle jogging and be finished in time for mobility and drills starting promptly at 6.45 pm. The main session starts just before 7 pm and finishes by about 7.45 pm. The cool-down is an important part of the session and is usually over by about 8 pm.

On Tuesdays, under-20 age group and above athletes can attend a separate session involving a sustained pace run of up to 10 miles (16 km). This session uses local roads and, when daylight permits, country footpaths.

Cross-country training

During the winter and depending on the competition schedule, cross-country training takes place on Saturday mornings, usually at either Ardington woodland, near Wantage or Wittenham Clumps near Didcot. At other times of the year, we may use Wittenham Clumps or Grove recreation ground near Wantage, depending on the racing programme. Whatever the venue, Saturday sessions start promptly at 9 am and are usually over by 10.10 am. As with all sessions, attendance is not compulsory.

Competition

As the name suggests, once they are ready for it, athletes in this group are expected to compete for the club. Distance running is a year-round sport, with cross country in winter and track in summer. In addition, there are road and cross-country relays in spring and autumn. Finally, depending upon age group, road races of various distances are available year-round. Cross country and track complement each other exceptionally well, and athletes are strongly encouraged to compete in both.

The coaching team

The group contains a wide range of ages, training backgrounds and event preferences. Sessions may involve more than 30 athletes and are carefully planned so that each athlete gets effective training. We may split into subgroups for all or part of a session.

We manage the programme by having a flexible coaching team with extensive experience in competitive distance running. The team is as follows:

  • Bernard Wilkins (UK Athletics Licenced Level 3 performance coach - endurance)

  • Emma Butcher (UK Athletics Licenced Athletics Coach – endurance)

  • Jon Bones (Licenced Leader in Running Fitness)

  • Phil Egerton (UK Athletics Licenced Assistant Athletics Coach.)

  • Harrison Read