CLC Striders Training Sessions

Our training benefits those who are fairly new to running, regular runners wanting to try out a club for the first time, and more experienced athletes looking to compete and go for PBs. We have two main sessions: a social run on Mondays and interval training on Wednesdays. We cater for different paces so if you can run 4 miles (6.4k) in around 40 minutes or less, come and give us a try.

The Monday and Wednesday sessions are free for members and you’re welcome to check out a few sessions before you commit to joining. Contact us at [email protected] for more details or to let us know if you’re coming along to training for the first time.

We are based at the CLC Health & Fitness Centre on Malvern Road. We usually meet outside the building, on the paved area just inside the main gate. There is plenty of free parking behind the centre, and toilet facilities are available inside (just ask at reception and let them know you’re with the running club).

Meet at 6.30pm, CLC Health & Fitness Centre

This is a 4 or 6 mile sociable run in groups, at varying paces, each group with an experienced leader. We start and finish at the CLC Health & Fitness Centre, using well-lit pavements around Cheltenham in the winter months, and Pitville Park and the Racecourse in the summer.

We change the route every few weeks but examples are:

Benhall & Warden Hill
- 4M - Gmap / GPX
- 6M - Gmap / GPX
Christmas lights
- 4M - Gmap / GPX
- 6M - Gmap / GPX
Honeybourne & Hewlett Rd / Hales Road
- 4M - Gmap / GPX
- 6M - Gmap / GPX
Summer route with Pittville Park / Racecourse
- 4M - Gmap / GPX
- 6M - Gmap / GPX
- 8M - Gmap / GPX
Warden Hill & Hatherley
- 4M - Gmap / GPX
- 6M - Gmap / GPX

Wednesdays – Speed work

Meet at 6.30pm, CLC Health & Fitness Centre

Our speed work sessions are brilliant for developing fitness, running efficiency, technique and pacing; all sessions are taken by our qualified Coaches. They are suitable for everyone as you work at your own pace, and are structured so that no-one gets left behind. Depending on numbers and training conditions, we may split into two groups according to pace. In the winter we train on the Honeybourne Line, which is tarmacked, well-lit and traffic free. In the summer we use the grass track at CLC Health & Fitness Centre, Pittville Park and Hatherley Park.

Other sessions

From time to time we may organise other training sessions, for example interval sessions at the Prince of Wales track, or hill repeats at Pittville Park. These are fun, add variety and help with event-specific training for track or cross-country races. Keep an eye on our Facebook page or contact us for more details on these sessions. We may ask attendees for a small contribution to cover the cost of track hire.

Tips for club runs

To make sure our club runs are safe and enjoyable for everyone, please follow these tips:

Come dressed for the weather – we run in the heat, cold and rain
If it’s dark, wear reflective clothing and preferably some lights
Take care when crossing roads and on uneven ground
On Monday runs, stay with your group and follow the leader’s instructions; if it’s too slow or fast you can try a different group the next week
Don’t leave anyone behind at the back of the group
Let your group leader know if you plan to run straight home rather than coming back to the sports centre
Speak to a coach or group leader if you have any injuries or other concerns before, during or after a run
We welcome your ideas and suggestions – please let us know what you think.

Meet Our Coaches

Our Coaches hold the England Athletics’ Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) qualifications and are DBS-checked. Please talk to them about your personal training goals, general running queries or any concerns you may have.

Matt Ashman