The Dacorum AC Road Runners section is open to all standards of runners (both male and female) in a safe and friendly atmosphere.
We meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, catering to a wide range of running abilities from complete beginners to marathon and ultra runners. As such you’ll always be able to find a suitable running buddy.
We train on the roads and footpaths around Hemel Hempstead as well as on the track. There are always several groups of varying speeds and abilities, from pure beginners to keen marathoners. New members from 16 years and up are always welcome, regardless of ability, and you don’t have to commit yourselves immediately; just try us out for a couple of weeks to ensure we meet with your approval!
Competing
Although competing in races is not essential, we nominate various races as our ‘Club Champs’ throughout the year. This includes 5k, 5 miles, 10k, 10 miles and half marathon distances. We also enter team events, including the MidWeekLeague (evening 10k races during the Summer) and the Chiltern Cross Country League during the Winter months.
We’re also a very social group, and we’ve got the photographic evidence to prove it! Every year, we go on several ‘road trips’ to events around the UK, ranging from half marathons, 24 hour team endurance events and of course our regular ‘parkrun tours’. We are also known to venture abroad to International running events such as the Abbott world major marathons (Berlin-Tokyo-Chicago-New York-Boston), various half marathons and what we fondly call ‘extreme parkrun tourism’ abroad.
We have a team of UKA-qualified coaches who are happy to provide training plans for members preparing to tackle a wide range of distances, from 5km to the marathon. Our weekly training sessions on the track, road and footpaths around Dacorum are often tailored to preparation for upcoming races, and members also meet regularly on weekends for longer group runs.
Training
On Tuesdays we hold Intervals /coaching sessions, starting at 6:45pm. These are held at Gadebridge Park or another park in the town in the Summer, and The Watergardens car park in the Winter. The sessions are communicated on a weekly basis via our members Facebook page and typically will be something like a ‘pyramid session’ or ‘hill repeats’.
On Thursdays we meet at 6:45 for a 7pm departure from Jarman Park Athletics Track. We have various groups/paces to accommodate everyone:
Group 1 Distance: Usually about 8 miles. Pace range: Between 6:15 and 8 minute miles.
Group 2 Distance: Usually about 6 miles. Pace range: Between 8 and 10:30 minute miles.
Group 3 Distance: Usually about 5 miles. Pace range: Between 10 and 12 minute miles.
Group 4 Distance: Usually about 3 miles. Pace range: 12 minute miles+ for those taking their first steps into running or coming back from injury
Each group has at least one group leader and no one gets left behind.
We also have occasional track sessions at Jarman Park Athletics track. Everyone is welcome
Social activities
On the first Thursday of every month, we hold a ‘Social’ at The Snow Centre after our group runs. Here we present our ‘Man/Woman of the Month’ awards, plus any other medals from events which have recently taken place.
We also have various other social events throughout the year, including our legendary Christmas party when you get to see your fellow runners ‘dressed up’ rather than in running attire.
