A RUNNING CLUB IN BATH
BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER
JOIN A RUN GROUP – YOU’LL NEVER REGRET A RUN
Why?
WE ARE A RUNNING CLUB IN BATH, ENJOYING THE TRAILS AND GETTING FIT IN THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE ON OUR DOORSTEP
Running has to be the most accessible and simplest form of exercise – just lace up your trainers and out the door you go! BUT often it is difficult to muster up the motivation, injuries can set us back, as can general ‘lack of confidence’ about our running ability. Or may be you’re a runner who is stuck in a rut and needs some inspiration to fall back in love with running?
We are a running club in Bath and our aim is to improve your running ability and stamina, whilst training with like-minded people who are all taking responsibility for their health and fitness. And you’ll get the motivation and accountability that running with others provides – you really will become part of our running community.
Never run before or haven’t run for ages? Not sure exactly what a running club is? Not a problem – read through the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Or maybe you’re training for a specific event and want to maximise your training effort? Why not try some 1:1 run coaching sessions with me – I’m a UK Athletics qualified run coach!
Why ‘No Regrets Running’? Some runs you will enjoy more than others, but trust me – you will never regret a run. You only regret the runs you don’t do. And to prove a point, if you ever come on a run with my running group and regret it – I’ll give you your money back!
Still not sure? Then let Lizzie persuade you…
What?
DIFFERENT RUN SESSIONS – THERE’S SOMETHING TO SUIT ALL LEVELS
Run Training Sessions
Mixed ability running group sessions for all runners.
We mix it up with different interval sessions working on the flat or on hills. Wednesdays are ideal for those who are new or returning to running, and Mondays are aimed at runners who can comfortably run approx. 5-10km.
Mondays & Wednesdays
6.30pm
(term time)
Run
Coaching
Training for a specific event? Need help with technique to avoid injuries? Or maybe you want a bespoke programme to prepare for an event? I’m a UK Athletics Qualified Run Coach and would be delighted to work with you!
One-off or regular run coaching sessions available at a time to suit you.
Social Runs @ Glasshouse
Join a great running club in Bath for FREE evening social runs on the trails at a relaxed pace to explore the countryside and catch up with fellow runners.
These social runs are held every other Thursday and we’ll run approximately 8-9km (a bit less in winter!).
All social runs start at Glasshouse Academy BA2 5BX thanks to Bath Recreation.
Ramp Up the Distance
Want to increase your long distance runs or want to run further in the safety of a group?
Want to experience the joy that is trail running but not sure where to go?
Normally on Saturday mornings (but sometimes on Sundays), we’ll aim to cover 15-20km – see calendar below or contact me.
Guided Run Tours
Are you a runner who is visiting Bath? Want to explore slightly further afield?
Our guided running tours of Bath allow you to see not only many of the wonderful sights of this world heritage city, but will also provide some stunning views from the nearby surrounding hills.
Various days / times to suit your itinerary.
What They Say…
Check out some of our Google reviews
EVENTS CALENDAR
What’s on
Calendar of Events
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Keep the Running Going
Keep the Running Going
A 1-hour run training session designed for people who are already able to run 5km non stop, but at any pace. We'll do a gentle 15 minute jog warm up, including some dynamic exercises, to the starting point of our main workout. The starting point will vary from week to week so we get to...
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Get the Running Started
Get the Running Started
A 1-hour run training session designed for people who are either new to running or starting back again after a break. We'll do a gentle 15 minute walk/jog warm up, including some dynamic exercises, to the starting point of our main workout. The starting point will vary from week to week so we get to...
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30k Trail Run
Save the date! We're going to do a 30km point to point trail run. We'll catch the train to our starting point then run back to Bath on some of the marked 'ways'. Great training for the Bath Beat at the end of the month! More details later...
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Keep the Running Going
Keep the Running Going
A 1-hour run training session designed for people who are already able to run 5km non stop, but at any pace. We'll do a gentle 15 minute jog warm up, including some dynamic exercises, to the starting point of our main workout. The starting point will vary from week to week so we get to...
0 events,
1 event,
Get the Running Started
Get the Running Started
A 1-hour run training session designed for people who are either new to running or starting back again after a break. We'll do a gentle 15 minute walk/jog warm up, including some dynamic exercises, to the starting point of our main workout. The starting point will vary from week to week so we get to...
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Bath Beat
Starting on the southeastern edge of the city The Bath Beat takes the walker or runner out into the countryside through the woods, hills and river valleys of this southerly edge of The Cotswolds. There are four distances of 12.5, 17, 21 and the popular 26.5 miles, all pass several checkpoints where there are always...
2 events,
1 event,
Keep the Running Going
Keep the Running Going
A 1-hour run training session designed for people who are already able to run 5km non stop, but at any pace. We'll do a gentle 15 minute jog warm up, including some dynamic exercises, to the starting point of our main workout. The starting point will vary from week to week so we get to...
0 events,
1 event,
Get the Running Started
Get the Running Started
A 1-hour run training session designed for people who are either new to running or starting back again after a break. We'll do a gentle 15 minute walk/jog warm up, including some dynamic exercises, to the starting point of our main workout. The starting point will vary from week to week so we get to...
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What’s on
EVENTS CALENDAR
Where?
A RUN CLUB BASED IN COMBE DOWN, BATH
Run groups are based in Mulberry Park / Combe Down to the south of Bath City Centre.
Group run sessions: these will start at the same point (next to the Curo Sales office / Mulberry Park roundabout, opposite the Forester & Flower pub – BA2 5BZ) but head out to different locations for the main session each week.
Personal 1:1 coaching sessions: these can vary – I can come to you (up to a 5 mile radius from Combe Down included in session cost) or we can meet at a convenient location.
Social Runs @ Glasshouse: meet at the Glasshouse Academy, Bradford Road, BA2 5BX.
Who?
I’M SUE, RUNNING IS PART OF MY LIFE
But it hasn’t always been. I started running towards the end of 2016 at a turning point in my life as an accessible way of getting fit (and, if the truth be known, as a drunken promise with a friend!). I was a somewhat reluctant beginner, but after some highs and lows and a few chats with myself, I realised that I really did enjoy it. It’s now become a ‘thing that I do’. I can genuinely say that it has benefitted my mental health as much as – if not more than – my physical well-being.
Roll forward a few years and I’m an accomplished (but not fast!) ultra marathon runner, having completed many long distance events. Along the way when I was training for my first ultra event, I met Kerry Sutton of Perpetual Motion Coaching and I’ve been going to her training sessions ever since! I prefer trail running to road running – I love the sense of freedom out in the country and it’s definitely not about the pace. Give me a few hours on the trails (and a Marmite sandwich) and I’m in my happy place.
I qualified as an England Athletics Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF) in 2020 and then as an England Athletics Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) in 2022. I can’t wait to share my love of running with everyone, to inspire, encourage, motivate and get fit.
Questions?
FIND THE ANSWERS HERE
Well they all vary. But No Regrets Running is a running club that offers training sessions designed for people of similar (but not necessarily exactly the same) ability. Each session lasts about 1 hour and consists of a 15 minute gentle warm up including dynamic stretches, a 30 minute ‘run workout’ (see below for more details on this) and finally a 10 minute walk / jog cool down back to the starting point and 5 minutes stretching / debrief. Note that this does not apply to the Social Runs @ Glasshouse – these are just circular runs for the fun of it!!
The workouts will vary each week but in general they alternate between ‘speed’ sessions on the flat and hill sessions. Each workout is normally based on interval training, which involves running for different distances and / or times at different paces with rest / recovery gaps in between. They are designed to be 100% inclusive – you work at your own ability level – and improve your running confidence, technique and stamina, whilst being fun and generally enjoyable!
Nobody is slow! We all have our own pace. Once we have done the warm up (which will be a very gentle walk / jog to the start), the main workout will be based around a single starting / finishing point.
Basically, the workout intervals involve running to a certain point (either based on distance or time) and then back to the starting point. Everyone goes at their own pace so the faster runners don’t feel like they’re hanging around – they may complete more repetitions of the intervals – and the more steady runners don’t feel like they’re at the back or holding people up.
So exactly how are you intending to get fitter and / or lose that weight? Personally I’m not a fan of specifically dieting to lose weight, it’s simply a case of burning off more calories than you consume! Doesn’t matter how you do it…
Running is the perfect way to raise your heart rate gently and by doing so, you will burn off more calories. As a very rough guideline, when you are running at a pace where you can still hold a conversation, you will be burning off around 8 or 9 calories a minute. That’s about 500 calories an hour. As long as you don’t get home and raid the cupboard ‘because you deserve it’, you will lose weight and get fitter.
As humans, we are designed to run – to gather food, to keep warm, to avoid enemies & predators and so on. The problem is we don’t have to run to do any of these things any more. We’ve become sedentary, we sit down a lot, food is readily available, we just put the heating on (or a jumper) to keep warm and fortunately (hopefully!) we don’t have enemies & predators chasing us down all the time.
Imagine what would have happened if you had said to your tribe that your knee was hurting so you couldn’t run? No food, cold and eaten by a sabre-toothed tiger! OK so I’m simplifying it somewhat but hopefully you get what I mean.
I’m not going to give any medical advice – I’m not qualified and you know your body best of course – but try to understand why your knee / ankle / hips etc are hurting and then do something about it! I find as I get older, I’m definitely ‘creakier’ but there is a distinction between hurt and harm. Seeking advice from a physiotherapist is always my starting point if I feel I’m veering into the ‘harm’ category. I recommend Stewart at Physio Impulse, but of course there are many others.
But isn’t it expensive to keep going to the physio all the time? I guess it depends on your situation, but in my years of running, I’ve been to see a physio for only 3 separate niggles (ankle, back, achilles) and not once have I been told not to run. My problems have all been to do with a weakness in part of my body and I’ve over-stressed it. I’ve been given advice on how to strengthen whatever is causing the problem, some treatment and then sent on my running way!
On a more general note, whilst running is good for your general health and fitness, I would encourage you to add in some weekly strengthening exercises – working on your core and legs in particular provide great results for running ability. There are absolutely loads of gyms out there and many more online – find one that works for you!
The only essential piece of gear I would recommend for running is a decent pair of running trainers that fit properly. There are loads and loads of different makes and types and people tend to have their favourites, it’s a personal thing. I like to support local businesses and always try to get my trainers from John Moore Sports who offer an excellent fitting service & advice, but again, other shops are available in town and online.
As for clothing, layers are the answer and ‘always dress for the 2nd mile’ is something to bear in mind – it may be cold outside but don’t be tempted to put on too much clothing as after 5 or 10 minutes, you’ll be roasting. Cotton clothes are not great as they tend to hold on to the sweat and then make you cold in the windchill. ‘Technical’ fabrics work best, but again they don’t have to cost the earth. Just get something that can be washed again and again and again…
Yes of course you can! And you will. But joining a weekly run group can give you accountability, motivation and sense of community to keep you running. In addition, the workouts in each session are designed to improve your running fitness / technique / stamina so will make your other runs during the week easier and more pleasurable. Think of the group sessions as ‘training’ and your other weekly runs as ‘practice’.
If you are just looking to enjoy a social run with fellow runners, do sign up for the Social Runs @ Glasshouse. These are FREE events, with longer 8-9km ones every other Thursday, then shorter gentler 5-6km ones every other Friday.
I also organise longer guided trail runs, normally on Saturdays – see the calendar above for details,
It’s not like that at all, trust me – no one is forcing you to run around a muddy course in your gymslip! Running is such an accessible activity – apart from the trainers, you don’t need any equipment – you can just lace up and run out the door. No driving to the gym, no booking, no costs involved for your own runs. And it’s a great way to spend some time running with a friend and having a chat whilst doing so, with no distractions from family / phone / TV – it’s pure ‘headspace’ time.
During a weekly run training session, you’ll meet up with like-minded people who all have a common goal – to take responsibility for their health & fitness through running. There’s always a great camaraderie in a run group (‘we’re all in this together’ attitude!), which will really help with motivation and accountability for the rest of the week when you are struggling to get out of the door.
Generally tracks and trails are just as firm underfoot as pavements. Grass can provide a bit of relief but it is more the variation in terrain off road that makes it less impactful on your joints than tarmac pavements.
However, being in England, for around 6 months of the year we do have to train on pavements for the evening classes. Likewise, if it’s too muddy on the trails, pavement runs are required. But this is the time to be putting down your ‘base level’ training, getting fitter and stronger and improving your technique so that when daylight hours increase, you can get out onto the trails, full of confidence in your running ability.
Definitely not! There’s never a right or wrong time to start running – it’s all about making that first move and deciding to come along. A bit like the question ‘I’m SO slow, I don’t want to be left behind’, the sessions are structured for all abilities within the group so you can work at your own level and see the improvements by regular attendance to the sessions and practice runs during the week.
Do you know what? Most people simply won’t notice! And the ones that do will undoubtedly be proud of you and pleased to see that you are taking responsibility for your own health and fitness. As for the ones who make fun – just suggest that they come along to a session to see what it’s all about!!
Just like the first day at school, the first day in a new job or even a first date, the ‘first’ of anything is always a bit nerve-wracking. It’s totally natural to feel those butterflies. But once you’ve completed that ‘first one’, you’ll never be in that situation again. If you’re unsure or have doubts, please contact me and I’m more than happy to chat / meet with you before a session to talk you through your concerns.
Yes! We go out running in all weathers! We don’t go rusty in the rain and there’s no better way to warm up than to do some exercise. The sense of achievement seems so much greater when you get back from a soggy run (trust me on this one!). The only times we won’t go out is if a lightning storm or very high winds are forecast, or if it’s snowy or icy on the pavements, which may be perhaps one day a year! (and even then, run group will probably be rescheduled…).
Some people just love to go running for running’s sake, but others need the challenge of an event or race in order to stay motivated and feel like they are improving. Entering a run event is a great way to meet like-minded people and check how your running is progressing, but of course you can just enter for the fun of it! Whilst the Bath Half and Bath Skyline Park Run naturally spring to mind, there are also many other on-road and off-road events. Check out the excellent Relish Running team who put on events throughout the year covering a wide range of distances and courses, most of which are based locally to us here in Bath.
I’ve done a few of their events and they are so well organised – they seem to do everything for you, apart from the running! I’ve also volunteered for them as a way to give back to the running community and it was a real insight to be ‘on the other side’ on race day.
If you don’t fancy running in an actual event, why not arrange to run with a friend, or join a social run – we organise these every fortnight and they are a great way to meet new running friends.
The basic answer is ‘No’.
Why is that? I think it can work very well if you are doing it on your own or with a friend or two, as you will probably be at the same starting point and know each others’ availabilities / schedules. I know it has been a hugely popular and successful programme to get people running and that can only be a good thing – I’m 100% in favour of absolutely anything that gets people out running – but in my experience, it does not work quite so well in a bigger group setting (and again, I know there are many groups who have completed it successfully).
Here are my reasons (remember, they are just my personal reasons and they are general in nature!):
That all sounds a bit negative, so what would you recommend? Again, I cannot stress enough that anything that gets people out running is a GOOD THING, doesn’t matter what it is or how it works. But my approach is to aim to build a community where running becomes part of what you do, not just something for a few months, before you have to find the ‘next thing’.
Everyone who comes to a run training session is at a different ability, but the sessions are designed so that each runner can work at their own level and not feel left out / at the back / held back. I just ask that everyone works at their own very best ability and gives it their all. There is no ‘end goal’ as such – it’s about forming a habit rather than completing a course – but I do encourage runners to have an event (or two) to aim for to sustain their motivation throughout the year.
So would you not recommend that I do the Couch to 5K programme? Yes please do if that’s what you really want – whatever gets you out there! Do it on your own or with a friend or two, turn up each week and motivate each other. But if you want to make running part of your life, come to a run session to learn technique, get motivation from others, enjoy the buzz that is running and become part of our community, so that you can go out for runs on your own (or with friends) during the week without having to feel obliged to complete some pre-set task or other.
It doesn’t have to take over your life, just become part of your life.
Articles
HERE ARE MY MUSINGS… OPINIONS ARE MY OWN
6 reasons why you should be running in Bath
How to Master Negative Splits: The Art of Pacing
Running Slower to Run Faster – Does it Actually Work?
While the temptation might be to push harder and faster in every workout, the surprising truth is that training slowly can be a key factor in unlocking your full speed potential.
Running Hydration Vests – Do I Need One?
Are You Dealing with a Disappointing Finish Time?
Tips for running the Bath Half (or any longer distance event)
What do I eat and drink on a long run?
Bath Half Marathon Training Programmes – let the fun begin!
I’ve just signed up for the Bath Half – what should I do now?
Biomechanics and Exercises for Runners
Strength for Runners – or dealing with ‘sarcopenia’?
How I Cope With Injury…
What Effect Does Exercise Have on the Brain?
Free stuff!
SOCIAL RUNS @ GLASSHOUSE
Every fortnight – THURSDAY evening – 6.30pm
Free 8-9km guided social run with like-minded people. These runs are for experienced runners who are happy to cover a range of terrain and most likely some steep inclines! The route will vary each time…these events are proving extremely popular so make sure you book well in advance.
In the summer (from end of March), our social runs will be fully OFF ROAD. Trail shoes are recommended depending on how much rain we’ve had.
In the winter (late September onwards), we’ll alternate between ON ROAD and OFF ROAD social run routes. Hi viz is required for on road routes, and a head or body torch & trail shoes for off road routes. Off road routes will be slightly shorter. See below for dates.
Starting point:
We meet at Glasshouse Academy, BA2 5BX. There is on-street parking nearby.
Upcoming Dates:
Summer series – all off road
(trail shoes required if it’s been raining!):
10th April, 24th April, 8th May, 22nd May, 5th June, 19th June
In the event of severe weather, we may have to alter the route or even cancel the run for safety reasons. An email will be sent to all registered runners if this happens.
All social runs can be booked via Ticket Tailor using the links here:
1 hour run in 1 minute: look what happened on previous Social Runs @ Glasshouse:
Want to see more videos of what we get up to on our runs? Take a look at our YouTube channel: