Welcome back! Last time, I promised you a run through the year of Easingwold Running Club (ERC). So without further ado… our club offers a wide range of opportunities to all folk, no matter where you are on your journey. Just starting out, a slower or faster runner, everything is catered for and all are welcome.
The club night for ERC is on Thursday’s, convening at 6:50 for a 7 o’clock start. Set routes (either in Easingwold or further afield) are planned and groups, based on speed set out for sessions. The groups, led by qualified leaders range from the greens, through yellow, orange, red and black. Green is the slower end, while black is the faster. Warm up and cool down routines are provided. These evenings can be based around specific training techniques to help members build endurance and speed. Away from the official evening, groups also meet on a Tuesday for mainly social runs, Mondays (for strength and conditioning, in Alne) and occasional social Sundays, which invariably involve longer, chatty runs.
During the year, for those who fancy a bit of competition, ERC holds its Club Championship. This is a multi-event contest, whereby any member of ERC partaking in official running events, (such as Sessay Swift 6k, Ilkley half marathon and many in-between) can have their finishing times logged and placed into a league table. For older participants, there is the light relief of age-graded timing, meaning that people across the whole spectrum can compete competitively. 8 events out of 20 must be completed to qualify for an official position on the podium!
During the kinder months, we often meet away from Easingwold and take advantage of the beautiful countryside that surrounds. Popular locations for an away night include Husthwaite, Yearsley Woods, Hovingham and Brandsby. A run along the River Ouse in York is a bi-annual tradition. All runs are usually followed by a visit to a local watering hole for those who’d like to stay on for a social. A good point to note, ERC is not just a great place for fitness, but also a brilliant outlet to meet and make new friends.
Members are encouraged (not compulsory I might add) to sign up to the York and District Road Race League (held throughout late spring and early summer) and the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cross Country series, for those who “enjoy” muddy, cold, windy, wet and wintery conditions! The ERC calendar also includes time trials and an annual handicap race. This is a very popular event. Slower runners set off first, all staggered, with the faster ones at the back. The idea being, all participants cross the finish line in a crazy and congested finish!
No running club should come without its social side and ERC does not disappoint. Several social gatherings occur throughout the year (some don’t even involve running… disgraceful!) – Christmas meals, trips to High Paradise Farm (other farms are available), Easter egg rolling competition, awards nights and many others.
If I was to tell you everything that makes ERC the great club it is, I’d run out of space! As always, you can find out everything you need to know through the club website www.easingwoldrunningclub.co.uk/ and if you’re on Facebook, you can find us there too.
Next time, we’ll be hearing from Sam and Neil, two ERC stalwarts, giving you the lowdown of their latest venture, the Lakeland 50. Just for the record, that’s miles, not kilometers! Until then, enjoy the sunshine and if you’re not a runner or are looking for an alternative gateway to fitness or community, how about calling by the park in Easingwold at 9am on any Saturday to witness Millfield Parkrun in all its glory? Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you! Visit www.parkrun.org.uk/millfield/ for more details.
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