I’m interested in joining St Albans Striders. Can I come along to try a session?

We are able to offer a free trial session, which must be pre-booked, and subject to certain criteria. Please contact membership@stalbansstriders.com to do this and if you have any questions about joining Striders. Your welcome email will fully explain how we operate.

I see that the membership year runs from April to March each year. If I join part-way through the membership year, do I still pay the full year fee?

Yes, the fee is payable by 1 April each year and we do not offer a reduced fee for those joining later in the year. However for January and February each year we are able to offer a Striders only membership (i.e. excluding English Athletics membership) for a much reduced fee.

I’m new to running. Can St Albans Striders help me to improve?

We accommodate runners of all abilities but ask that you can run at least 5km (e.g. parkrun) comfortably before joining us. This ensures that there will be a group and activity suitable for you. You might like to join our Run With Striders course which takes place in the early summer (late April – June) each year. This is a structured programme which is intended to build fitness and confidence. See the Home page for dates of the next Run With Striders course.

Will I need to join England Athletics (EA) as well?

We are strongly recommending that all members now also join (or renew) membership of EA.

You will need to join EA if you want to run as a club member in any road race run under UKA regulations. If you want to take part in the Cross-country races and the Mid-Week Road Race series you WILL need EA membership.

Joining England Athletics as well as an affiliated club such as St Albans Striders is optional but it does bring a number of benefits for the small fee charged. These include reduced entry fees for many of the major road races and discounts in sports shops.

I already belong to another running club. Can I join St Albans Striders as my second claim club?

Yes, you will be welcome to join Striders and train with us. However, you will only be able to race as a Strider in events in which your first claim club is not taking part (for example the summer Mid-Week Road Race series, Chiltern League cross-country or Sunday League cross-country).

Can my athletic child join St Albans Striders?

Our club licence and insurance cover us for adult runners so our activities are structured accordingly. We can accommodate young people aged 16-17 years provided that a responsible adult accompanies them.

Our sister club, St Albans Athletics Club, encourages and develops young athletes with specialist coaches and an appropriate programme of activities. Please see the St Albans AC website for more information.

How do I get access to Striders Facebook?

Please put in a request access to the club on Facebook. Facebook will give you a more immediate access to all our events, both competitive and social

I’ve ordered a vest online. Where do I collect it?

The kit committee member will be in touch to let you know how to collect your kit. If there is any query, please message on Facebook or send an email to our kit committee member: kit@stalbansstriders.com.