East Kent Coaching has been holding school holiday running sessions across Thanet for several years now. We launched our evening track sessions in May 2024 at the Royal Harbour Academy track in Ramsgate. Initially for secondary school pupils only, we soon expanded to welcome those in primary years 5 and 6 too.
By late summer, we had a small but enthusiastic group of runners meeting every Wednesday evening. At this point, a commitment was made to continue through the autumn and winter whatever the weather.
With the darker evenings approaching, fate intervened and scuppered our plans. A test of the track's floodlights revealed that they would be insufficient for safe evening training after dark. The track was temporarily closed to all users from 16th September 2024.
In response, we relocated at short notice to the nearby Jackey Baker's park and brought training forward to slightly earlier.
Sunday, 29th September 2024
We will resume floodlit training on Wednesday 9th October 2024 at St Peter's Recreation Ground in Broadstairs, home of Thanet Wanderers rugby club.
Broadstairs Map (new window)
Training is open to children in Year 5 and upwards, with most attendees already at secondary school. When the age spread is broad, sessions will be differentiated to provide a suitable challenge for everyone.
Please note that we cannot accommodate children below Year 5 in the evenings, but they may enjoy our morning sessions in the school holidays.
Footwear: Suitable footwear is essential. You do not need spikes or studded shoes, but can bring them if you want on muddy days. Trail shoes or trainers are perfect. School shoes, walking boots, flip-flops etc are not appropriate and you will not be allowed to train in them.
Clothing: Think carefully about what to wear and bring. Your school PE kit or other sportswear will be fine for running in. Be aware that the recreation ground is a large open space and sometimes gets very cold in the evening, even on warm days. Make sure you bring warm clothing for before and after the session. Warming up in a hoodie or tracksuit top is recommended. A lightweight, waterproof top is advisable too as we intend to train throughout the autumn and winter months regardless of the weather.
Hydration: You should aim to arrive suitably hydrated. Bring a water bottle with you, but you don't need to guzzle gallons during the session. A snack for afterwards is a good idea too, especially if you have a long drive home.
Behaviour: Pay attention and follow instructions carefully. If anything is unclear, ask. (You may also be helping other people who haven't understood or weren't listening properly.) Parents are welcome to
Each session begins with a gentle jogging warm up. It is really important to warm up slowly. You should be able to hold a normal conversation with anyone running alongside you. If you feel out of breath after your warm up, you have gone too fast and will not get maximum benefit from the session.
After some balance, mobility and coordination drills, you will learn about the evening's set. Sessions will may include competitive elements, but respect for teammates and competitors alike is vital.
We are always happy to hear about individual goals and to help athletes towards achieving them. Remember, though, that everyone develops at different rates. We aim to encourage enjoyment in running throughout childhood and beyond rather than putting too much pressure on performance this week, this month or this year.
The greatest gains come from working consistently and you are encouraged to attend regularly.
East Kent Coaching is not a club, so there is no enrolment fee or annual membership to pay.
All you have to do is book online, complete the consent form and pay for your sessions in advance.
A one-hour track session with East Kent Coaching costs £7.
Don't Forget to PayPlease make your BACS transfer to this account: Payee East Kent Coaching Ltd |
If your child hasn't run with us before, you'll need to complete a short Parental Consent Form and return it before coming along for the first time.
Complete Consent Form (Online Google Form)
If you are using the Pay-As-You-Go option, please complete your Booking Form by Monday evening at the latest (i.e. 48 hours before you plan to attend.)
If you have any questions, you can
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