What is Run With Striders?
 

Fitter, Faster, Further

Our course is for runners who are relatively new or returning to running*, who want to meet other runners of their level and pick up some ideas and tips to improve their running. It’s also a gentle introduction to St Albans Striders running club, we help take the worry out of getting started by offering:

• Activity and technique-based sessions (hills/ track / pacing) for all runners

• Organised runs led by a group of experienced runners

• Basic running psychology to help improve your runs and performance

• Organised runs led by a group of experienced runners

• Different runs to suit different paces

• A safe and sociable environment to run around our great city & countryside

• Additional weekend social runs, including a parkrun breakfast

• All this, free entry to St Albans Striders' Solstice 10k race (June), Striders Club membership until March 2027 (worth £58), for just £65, with a special price of just £25 for under 25’s.

* We ask that you are currently running at least 5k distance (within 35 minutes or faster).
 

When and where is the course?

Our next course starts on 19th May 2025 and will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for a total of 5 weeks, from 7pm to 8pm. We will meet at 6.55pm by the Abbey View Track, Westminster Lodge, St Albans, AL1 2DL, at the start of the sessions.

Who is it for?

The course is for any runners already running at least 5k (to enable us to group effectively we do recommend that your 5k can be completed in 35 minutes). If you are interested in joining the club but apprehensive about 'turning up', would like to improve your running, or simply want to run in a sociable environment and make friends, this course is perfect for you.

200 people have already joined St Albans Striders through previous courses, (2023 graduates are in the photo above) and our groups have varied from people who have just run their first 5k through to those who have been running for a long time and gone on to complete marathons. We cater for slower and speedy runners as we split into smaller groups accordingly.

The course is also a perfect training program for anybody who is entering the St Albans half marathon.

Run with Striders Course Details

• 2 x 1 hour evening sessions per week (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7-8pm)

• Friendly Striders members volunteer to accompany your runs

• Runs around the beautiful Verulamium Park and surrounding area

• Guide to running techniques and psychology, designed to help all runners

• Training on warm-ups, cool-downs and stretching

For your own benefit, try to come along to all the sessions. Lots of us struggle to leave work on time, find childcare or battle with delayed trains! Having said that, it’s much easier to get to training if you put those sessions in your calendar now and let people know you have a commitment on those nights. You will receive an email before the course starts providing information on where to meet etc.

What will I need?

• Running trainers

• Comfortable running clothes

• Water for during and after the session

How can I sign up? There are two options below:

1. If you don't currently have an account on our website, please
   1. Set up an account with St Albans Striders using the link here
   2. Once you have set up your account, sign up for Run with Striders here
2. OR....If you are already registered as a member on the website, sign up for Run with Striders here
    

With both of the above options, select the Run With Striders membership option. Please do not choose any other membership option, as this will automatically be included in your £65 joining fee.

You will be asked to complete a short profile. This is so we know a little about you and can tailor the sessions.

You will need to tell us how long it takes you to run 5k. If you don’t know your 5k time, you can take part in a local parkrun on any Saturday at 9am. These are free but you will need to register in advance. Local events include St Albans (Verulamium), Jersey Farm and Oaklands College. Alternatively, you could time yourself around a route that you know to be 5k.

 

We are unable to accommodate people turning up without registering as we won't have enough run leaders to offer safe sessions
 

If you have queries or difficulties signing up, please contact Andy Normile : membership@stalbansstriders.com

We are unable to accommodate people turning up without first registering as we won't have enough run leaders to offer safe sessions.