If you have ever done the parkrun or can already run a bit then we are the group for you!

Complete running beginners click here.

Just come down any Tuesday or Thursday at for a run out at6:30pm and try our intermediate group or one of our more advanced groups.  We arrive from 6:15 to have a chat and do a warm up so we are ready for 6:30.  We have groups of various abilities from race pace of sub 7 minute miles to 14 minute mile runners so what ever your ability we have a group for you.  You can try us for free for a few sessions to see if we are the group for you.  We do not use the track but we train around the lakeside area and we run out to Cantley/ Bessacarr / Intake / Town Moor / Potteric Carr / Wadworth etc…

Tuesdays we do a longer run, this will tend to be for about 1 hour in duration, sometimes a bit shorter or a bit longer.  Because the group is multi-ability the faster runners go further.  We will have several run leaders with the groups to look after all abilities.

We will be splitting the Tuesday Groups in to four groups, all the groups will run for about 1 hour at different speeds.

The leaders will always try and be with the groups but sometimes we will be short (illness, other commitments, work, families) – if your group has no leader then one the other members of the group will have to stand in please.

All the groups will have faster and slower members so you will all have to get use to regrouping / looping back 3 or 4 times on the run – no one gets left behind.

You will be placed with groups based on your 5k times, we have given the groups names and hopefully you will, if you want to progress through the groups.

• Too Stupid to Stop – Under 25 minute parkrun / 5k (7 to 8 minute miles) – Leaders Martin, Janet, Marie, Paul, Sid  (around 7.5 miles)
  
• PB Hunters – 25 to 32 minute parkrun / 5k (8 to 10:20 minute miles) – Leaders Rose, Jodie, Vicky R, Dawn, Andrea, Irene (around 6 miles)
  
• Racing Snakes – 32 to 38 minute parkrun / 5k (10:20 to 12 minute miles) – Leaders Vicky J, Katey, Trish, Wayne, Tracey, Suzanne (around 5 miles)
  
• Pocket Rockets – 38 minute + parkrun / 5k  (12 minute miles +) – Leaders Becci, Ann-Marie, Susan, Bev, Liz, Vicky D (around 4.5 miles)
  

Thursdays we do interval training, these are shorter efforts at higher intensity with a recovery between efforts.  They are suitable for all abilities and not to be worried about.  These sessions are lead by a experienced coach (Paul Brown) who will help you develop your running technique.

We actively encourage our runners to take part at the Doncaster parkrun each week, this is a free event every Saturday morning at Sandall Park .  It starts at 9am and it is 5km, 75% on grass.  Please register at this link and select Doncaster AC as your running club.

If you enjoy running with the group then you can obtain road runner membership for £30.  You do have 2 optional upgrades which would be appropriate if feel you want to start racing, a UK Athletics race license which is £10 and a racing vest which is £18.

So the absolute maximum you would pay for the year is £58, and the minimum is £30.  Regardless you will all get the same high quality coaching and training.

We are part of Doncaster Athletic Club and if appropriate we will feed athletes through the groups to the coaches so you get the best possible coaching.

We are based at the running track, at the Keepmoat Stadium.  We have full changing facilities, toilets, coffee, tuck shop and free parking.

Typical Run Routes:

Woodfield B&Q – 4 Miles or 6 Miles

Sandall Beat – 4.15 Mile, 5 Miles or 6 Mile options

Town Moor Hills – 10k option or 4 Miles options

Leger Way to Town – 7.2 Miles, 5 Miles and 4.2 Miles Options

Bessacarr Loop  – 7 Miles with hills, 5 Miles and 4.5 Miles Options

5km Time Trial

Monday 3 August – Endurance Trail Run – decided to run along the river Don to Conisbrough Viaduct and back along the south side of the river on the way out and the north side (TPT) on the way back.  It was a warm afternoon and as I got to Conisbrough Viaduct I decided to keep going as I was feeling ok and I ran to Mexborough, Pastures and then back along the TPT.  I ended up running 16.24 miles in 2 hours and feeling quite tired for the last few miles.  I averaged 7:30 minute miles over the run with 554 feet of elevation gain.

Tuesday 4 August – Steady Road Club Run – ran with new runner, 7 miles @ 9:10 minute miles.

Did not get chance to run again until Saturday 8 August – Track Race, I ran with Wayne Martison in the Northern League for Doncaster Athletic Club, our event was the 5k and we both ran well.  I have obviously lost some of my speed due to a lack of interval training in the last 8 weeks, this was shown today.  Proud to represent my club and the athletes that competed ensured we got promoted!  18:27 so about 30 seconds off my PB but still a seasons best.

On Sunday 9 August – Endurance Road Run, against lots of advice from everyone lol, I had planned to do a 3 hour long run incorporating the Askern 10 mile road race for the last 10 miles.  I set off at about 8:30 with a hydration backpack, 3 miles into the run my back suddenly got wet and I found the bladder had burst.  I skipped the backpack 1.5 liter bladder and got a 500ml bottle of water from a petrol station.  I arrived at the start 10 minutes before the start quite thirsty, had a good drink and made my way to the start.  Up to this point I had averaged 7:30 minute miles and I decided to put a bit of effort in to the race which I completed in under 70 minutes.  I still had 14 minutes to go so I did a dead steady warm down to take me up to 3 hours, 24.6 miles.  This is a fantastic way to do a long run finishing it with a race, I did the same run last year.

Rested on Monday, Tuesday 11 August – Club Road Run with Some Efforts – we all ran out and back to Wadworth, 7.78 miles @ 7:25 minute miles, nice and easy.

Wednesday 12 August, steady running, ran twice on some paths around Cusworth 2 miles (@7:50 minute miles) and later around Thorpe in Balne 5.5 miles @ 8:10 minute miles.  Could tell I had a cold coming on.

Thursday 13 August, interval training on Town Fields, tactical session suitable for all abilities.  I put in a total of 5.25 miles in during the 20 efforts.  I had about 8 and a half minutes recovery total between the 20 short reps.  No back pain at all so that issue has been resolved.

Saturday 15 August, Doncaster Park Run the head cold is hitting me now, I feel it in my legs which are heavy so I was pleased to finish in 19 minutes.

Descent trance tune above and 2 of my favorite things below, an Amiga running a tracker playing drum and bass, the tune in question was a classic back in the day.