Training with Hungerford Hares

Our regular training session is on a Tuesday night at 7.30pm. We meet at the Triangle Field (Hungerford Rugby Club) just past the John O Gaunt school (Priory Road) on the left hand side. There is adequate parking and toilet facilities.

We generally run between 4 and 7 miles, in the summer this is mostly cross-country and in the winter on quiet country roads. Everyone runs at different paces and we re-group regularly to make sure no one is left behind!

In the spring/summer months we aim to do an interval session on the 1st Tuesday of the month. In the winter months we will do more regular interval/hill sessions (see programme below). This helps to improve our fitness and adds some variety during the long winter months!

We are a very social crowd who quite often visit the Downgate pub, or the the rugby clubhouse, for some thirst-quenching drinks after our session.

Many of us also meet Saturday morning 8.15 at the Croft for a longer training run of usually 7 miles plus, however shorter distances can be accommodated.

Autumn/Winter Training Programme 2011/2012

Training session descriptions

Town Run; Approx 3-7 miles at various paces around the streets of Hungerford, generally in well lit areas.

Hill Training; We will start with a warm up of approx 10-15 minutes then on a steep hill do a set of 4-5 intervals (running hard up the hills then recover on the downhill) with the aim of building it up over the winter. We will then do a 10-15 minute gentle run back to the Rugby Club.

Training on hills improves leg-muscle strength, quickens your stride, expands stride length, develops your cardiovascular system, enhances your running economy and can even protect your leg muscles against soreness. For more information see:  www.runnersworld.co.uk/general/...hill-training/159.html  

Out and about run; Approx 3-7 miles at various paces out on quiet country roads around Hungerford. Members may want to bring a head torch for these sessions. See descriptions below of each route. Each route allows for members to do a shorter option of 3-4 miles.

Route 1- Go left out of the rugby club follow road round to T-junction then go right on Inkpen road. Take right into paved road around the ‘Anvilles’ then when you come to the Inkpen road again take a left then first right into Inglewood Road towards Templeton Stud. Take left at Templeton Stud over paved road which will bring you out on the Kintbury Road. Turn left then run onto the Common past the Downgate pub then take a left up into Albourne Close and cut through to Fairview road. From Fairview Road run straight along Priory Avenue then left into Priory Road and along to the Rugby Club.

Route 2- Go right out of the rugby club along Priory Road then left onto the Salisbury Road up the hill and right onto Church Way. Follow Church Way down to Smithan Bridge Road then cut down to The Croft and run through to the High street. Turn left at the High street and run over the bridge to the mini roundabout then right towards the Total garage, then up the A338( Eddington Hill) and left into Upper Eddington Road. Go along to crossroads then continue straight up to New Hayward Farm. Turn left through New Hayward Farm then left at end of road down to Leverton. At Leverton take a left up the hill back to the crossroads then a right back along Upper Eddington road to the A338. At the A338 turn left back down to the Total garage and head back towards the town. There is the option to add a loop round Charnham Park.

Route 3- Go right out of the rugby club along Priory Road then right into Priory Avenue, past the school then down Fairview Road, left into Park Street and down to the High street. Cross over the High St into Church Road and keep going along to Smitham Bridge road and up hill along North Standen Road. Follow road all the way along to Froxfield . Turn round and retrace steps back to rugby club.

Route 4; Go left out of the rugby club follow road round to T-junction then go left towards Inkpen Gate. Run over the Common towards Lower Denford then towards the A4. Take a right at the A4 then a left into Dark Lane. Run up Dark Lane to the T-junction then take a left towards the A338 (Eddington Hill). Cross over the A338 and carry along Gipsy lane until you get to the cross roads, then take a left down Upper Eddington road to the A338. At the A338 turn right back down to the Total garage and head back towards the town. There is the option to add a loop round Charnham Park.

Interval Training; We will start with a warm up of approx 10-15 minutes then run repetitions of a set distance i.e. 400 metres at high intensity with a recovery period. We will aim to do 4-5 repetitions with the aim of building it up over the winter. We will then do a 10-15 minute gentle run back to the Rugby Club. We also aim to make these sessions fun and will aim to do some group relay intervals. Interval training is the keys to running faster. For more information see: http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/general/speedwork-for-every-runner/167.html

NB Adverse weather conditions may require last minute changes to the training programme!

Please contact Mandy or Claire for any further information,

December 2010 Esther, Richard and Marcus.