The darker evenings has triggered the swap of the summer park-based training sessions to the winter arrangements from week commencing 28th August 2023.
For details of each session, please check out the events calendar - in response to requests to show all Eagles events including training in one location, we are trialing the inclusion of the training sessions in the events calendar
** Mon / Wed 7.30pm club runs **
The summer club run routes go through the parks which mean that we cannot continue to use them when the parks close earlier with the darker evenings. Therefore, from Monday 28th August, we will be switching over to the winter club run routes on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm, still meeting at Ealing Green with a choice of two distances (3.75miles / 5.5k or 4.75miles /7k) but avoiding the parks. Please see the club run route page for the route details.
HOWEVER, please note that the offer of these sessions requires the availability of volunteers to be leaders and tail runners. The Tuesday and Thursday sessions require input from qualified coaches / leaders or experienced runners but anyone who is willing to help out and run at a gentle pace can tail a run (and make use of the time to have a recovery run, to work on your running form and to get to know other people in the club). If you have made use of the club training sessions, please play your part in making the club training sessions possible.
** Forester club run **
Both winter club run routes go near The Forester’s pub on 2 Leighton Road, Ealing, Middlesex, W13 9EP, one of the pubs which is often a venue for our socials. We have therefore designated as “Forester club run routes”, runs which start and finish at Occupation Road W13, (across the road from the Forester’’s) so that you can start and finish at the Forester’s.
The Forester long club run (7.5k / 4.7miles) will be the same as the normal long club run route but meeting and finishing at Occupation Road. You can see more details of the route here.
The Forester short club run (5.5k / 3.5miles) will be the same as the normal short club run but meeting and finishing around at Occupation Road and the Forester’s. You can see more details of the route here
** Hill Sessions on Thursdays 7:30pm West Walk **
Training on hills
· prepare you for the hills in a race;
· build muscle (improve leg strength while still working aerobically – strength = speed); and
· teach your body to run fast when you’re struggling for oxygen (if you did that type of speed work in winter on track – short reps – you would pull a muscle).
All standards are welcome – everyone stays in the same place. Meeting place is West Walk off Hillcroft Crescent from Thursday 31st August 2023.
** Intervals on Tuesday 7.30pm Osterley Track**
Steady pace or easy training runs are done at an aerobic pace, i.e. not too out of breath. This builds up the heart, lungs and legs but will not adapt the body fully to run at a faster race pace. Interval training trains up the different energy systems used in racing at different distances. These energy systems range from anaerobic running at mile pace or faster to ½ marathon training run at around threshold pace using the Frank Horwill 5 pace system system (used by Seb Coe etc). To race at any distance you need to do intervals at race pace and faster and slower than race pace sessions. Also most club runners do a variety of distances and need sessions to train for these.
Each week will be a different session lead by a qualified Eagles run leader. Meeting place is Osterley track (120 Wood Lane, Isleworth, TW7 5FF. The club has booked exclusive use of track so you do not need to go to reception – please come straight to track (the exclusive booking of track by the club is an alternative to members booking and paying track fees individually in advance, so the committee would strongly encourage those attending to make a donation of £3.50 to club funds to assist with paying for the club track booking: bank details Ealing Eagles Running Club – Metro Bank - Ac: 15332379 S/c: 23-05-80 - please quote ref “track”). Bring a bottle of water, a snack for afterwards and enough layers to keep warm when you're not running. All standards are welcome – everyone stays in the same place. More details may be available in Facebook before or on the day.
** Daytime sessions **
Mondays at 10am
We aim to offer a variety of intervals or hills sessions at different locations on Mondays at 10am.
Tuesdays and Fridays at 10am
Tuesdays and Fridays 10k at 10am –self-led runs - please check the relevant Facebook group for arrangements.
Wednesday Bunnies
Wednesday Bunnies was set up during lock down by Eddie Eagle and Sharon Hodson.
It was initially just the 2 of us but we invited friends to join us who asked if they could invite their friends. We are now about 25 strong. We are a mixed bag of walkers, run walkers and runners with varying paces. Nobody runs alone unless they wish to. We alternate between Intervals, hills and flat runs.
On occasions, we organise an away day. We have been to the Chilterns, Surrey Hills and Richmond Park so far.
Everyone is welcome and it would specially help those returning from injury or just wish to get their confidence back.
The main event is always the coffee and cake at the Zoo cafe afterwards. It helps to create a social gathering where absolutely nobody is left out and made to feel unwelcome. Our strength is in our friendship.
** Sunday Long Run **
Meet Ealing Green Informal 10 mile (16.1k) self-led run taking the route through the parks to the river, along to Richmond and back via Syon Park.
Alternatively, in the month or so before Ealing Half Marathon, some Eagles are thinking of doing long runs on the EHM route. Please shout up on Facebook if you are planning to do a long run and would like company.
** Run / Walk programme **
The club offers a run / walk programme free to the local community to progress people from not running very much to running 5k or more without walking breaks (so that they can join the evening club runs). The run / walk programme attributes its success to the support and encouragement provided by the volunteers. If you are happy to run at a relatively gentle pace (7 to 8min/k or 11 to 13min/miles though some people will be faster and a few may not be so fast) and encourage beginners while doing so, then please think about contributing to the club and the running community in this way. Running at a more gentle pace is also a good way of working on your own running form (running gently does not mean running lazily or sloppily). For more information, please join the volunteers facebook group or email beginners@ealingeagles.com
The next run / walk programme will be for nine sessions (over eight weeks) starting Wednesday 11 October at 6.30pm or Thursday 12 October at 10am.
Healing Eagles are very welcome to join for part or all of the run / walk programme if they have been advised to do some run / walking and would like some company. Please email beginners@ealingeagles.com to check the level at which the programme is operating when you are thinking of joining.