Valley Striders was formed in 1982, just one year after the first London Marathon. We are based in Alwoodley, north Leeds.
We are affiliated to UK Athletics for road, cross country, trail and fell running.
We normally have around 12 runners in the Virgin London Marathon. In 2006, over 30 Valley Striders ran a marathon (road and/or off-road).
We have a wide range of abilities, Tracey Morris is currently our fastest runner but our marathon times for 2006 ranged from 2:33 to 4:58.
Other popular events for our members include the Leeds Half Marathon, the Abbey Dash 10k, the Leeds Country Way Relay, the West Yorkshire Cross Country League and our internal Club Handicap runs.
We also organise two races each year (1150 runners in 2006) with all the profits going to Lineham Farm Children’s Centre, a local charity.
Your questions answered!
Where can I find you?
Our main club night is Tuesdays 6:45pm at
Leodiensian Club,
Crag Lane, off King Lane,
Alwoodley, LS17 5PR.
We also meet Thursdays 6:45pm at Scott Hall Sports Centre, Harrogate Road, Leeds 7 and Sundays 9:15am at Smithy Mills Lane, off Parkside Road, Leeds 16.
What training do you do?
On Tuesdays, our sessions start with 2 miles warm up (one mile for beginners), then either 3 times 10 minutes, 5 times 6 minutes, 6 hills, or 16 times 75 seconds. We all stay together, how this works is explained on the website. This is followed by 2 miles (or 1 mile) back to the clubhouse. The locations are chosen because they are well-lit and have only a small number of road crossings.
The Thursday run is a steady 6 to 8 miles (in winter, on well-lit streets).
The Sunday run is a steady run of 12 to 15 miles (getting longer towards Marathon day).
Can I turn up or do I have to join first?
You may come and run with us 3 or 4 times for free before we ask you to join.
Please feel free to contact us by email before coming along for the first time if you would like more information.
Whatever your speed, you will not be left behind on a Tuesday session.
I am only looking to train for the Virgin London Marathon, how will I find others to train with?
When you have run one or two Tuesday sessions we will advise you whether the Thursday and Sunday sessions are suitable for you at this time.
From the Tuesday and other sessions you will meet other Striders of similar ability to yourself and you may arrange to meet them to train at other times of the week.
We have many members who have run more than 20 marathons and several who have run more than 50, so we can advise you on your training plan, the critical week leading to race day, and race day itself.
And when you have completed the Virgin London Marathon inside your target time, why not keep your training going, you will be amazed what the training will have done for your times over shorter distances - and the Leeds Half Marathon is only a few weeks after London!
