I know many clubs say they are for all but we really are. All speeds and all ages from the very young to the the more mature. We all support and encourage each other.
WHY JOIN POTTERS TROTTERS?
Our members come from a range of different backgrounds and have lots of different reasons for running. If you want to run faster or further, we are happy to help and support you. If you want to run to provide you with cheerful company, an escape from life’s pressures or make sure you leave work on time, that’s absolutely fine. If you want to learn new skills, we can provide training opportunities. If your goal is to learn how to run and talk at the same time, then we will do our best to make sure you achieve it. If you want to run but never take part in a race, that’s ok, you don’t have to. If you aren’t able to run, we still want you to be part of the club, and have a regular walking group. We work hard to organise club sessions and events with all these goals in mind.
Is the club affiliated?
The club has been affiliated to England Athletics since 2008. As an affiliated club, we can access support services, competition licensing, free resources, liability insurance and club programmes. England Athletics also has club standards in relation to safeguarding, welfare, inclusivity and health and safety. There are a range of benefits for members through being an affiliated club, including discounted race entry, offers from partner organisations and access to a range of resources for runners. More information can be found here: https://myathleticsportal.englandathletics.org/.
how is the club organised?
The club is governed according to its constitution. It has a small committee of volunteers who look after memberships, our finances, race entries, training, policies, procedures, health and safety, safeguarding and welfare and communications. The club committee is also responsible for ensuring policies set by England Athletics are implemented. New members will receive a links to all our official policies and those which apply to us from England Athletics. The committee is supported by other club members, who organise social events, running events and trips to races. Please speak to us about getting involved. Find out more about our club organisation, committee members and policies here.
Do you have qualified runs leaders?
All our official runs are co-ordinated by qualified run leaders, who have completed the England Athletics Leadership in Running Fitness Course. Our leaders can advise runners on aspects of training, warmup and cool down exercises and help members prepare for races. The club currently has one coach, who has completed the Level 2 Coach in Running Fitness course.
how can i join?
Please get in touch to let us know you are interested in joining the club. You can come along for a couple of sessions to meet club members, ask questions and come for a run with us before deciding whether you would like to join. We hope you will receive a friendly welcome. Memberships fees are changed annually and cover club membership as well as England Athletics Affiliation. For 2022/23, the fee for new members is £20.
i've never run Before - can i JOIN?
If you are a complete beginner, we have offer regular beginner's courses which run for 10 weeks. These are run at different times throughout the year. The goal of the course is to get everyone running for at least 5k / 40 minutes without stopping. Beginner groups are supported by our run leaders, most of whom started running as adults and completed similar beginner programmes with Potters Trotters or on their own. Our beginner programme is similar to the NHS Couch to 5k We also have a walking group which could be a good way to get involved as a complete beginner.
WHERE AND WHEN DO YOU MEET?
Our main meeting point is at the Staffordshire University campus on Leek Road, Stoke. We also meet at various venues around the city. Our club runs are advertised to members on an app called Spond. The time/date of club runs does vary from week to week but there will always be a run on Thursday evenings at 6 (meeting at Staffordshire University). There will be a mixture of evening and daytime runs. Some events will be aimed specifically at walkers. We also organise weekend runs and meet at local parkruns on Saturday mornings.
Where do YOU MEET?
We try to vary our routes as much as possible. Some routes will be flat, other times undulating or even hilly - hills are our friends. The distances also vary so that different abilities can be accommodated. During the winter, we stick to main well-lit roads. During the summer, we use a wider variety of routes, including parks, the canal towpaths and river paths. We also occasionally meet at alternative locations to explore and try out different routes. All our meeting points and routes are risk assessed and covered by our health and safety policy.
How are club sessions organised?
Sometimes, we all run together. Sometimes, we split into smaller groups to cover different distances, routes or terrains. We also include warm-up drills, technical coaching and stretching exercises in most of our sessions. Special sessions can include hill training, interval sessions or time trials for those who want to take part. Club sessions last about an hour but we sometimes have an option lasting about 90 minutes.
Will I be running on my own?
You should never be left on your own. Our number one rule is that we do not leave anyone to run on their own. We encourage runners to stay together and that is why we organise groups for each run. Our run leaders may ask runners to loop back or muster (wait at fixed points) if groups are becoming too spread out on the route - we ask all our members to support the leaders in this in order to ensure no one is left to run on their own whatever their pace. Looping allows some runners to run a little bit further on the same route - it's a great way of challenging yourself to run further or a bit faster too.
What kit do you need?
The most important items of kit are running shoes and sports bra. We are happy to provide recommendations on the best places to purchase and some hints about what to avoid. You should also consider a gait analysis when purchasing new footwear. If you are joining us in winter, you will need some hi-viz / reflective clothing for evening runs.
Can my children come along too?
Unfortunately, we are not able to include junior members aged under 18. We want to make sure they get the correct support for their age and so would recommend joining a club with a specific junior section e.g. Newcastle (Staffs) AC, Trentham Running Club or Stoke AC.
I can't come every week, does that matter?
We know that time is precious; everyone has busy lives and limits on the amount of time they can spend on running or club activities. That’s one of the reasons that club sessions usually only last about an hour. We understand completely if you can only come every now and then or can’t make it to the club nights at all; we still want you to feel like you have a place with us and feel welcome when you join us for special events or weekend runs.
Will I be able to enter races?
Lots of our members take part in races - you can read reviews from some of them on our blog. A particular local favourite is the Potters 'Arf in June each year. We also organise trips to races a bit further afield and have been to Windsor, Anglesey, Blackpool and London.
How do you keep in touch?
We send regular emails and produce a newsletter every couple of months. We use the SPOND app to organise club runs. We have a closed Facebook group for club members only, where members post updates, ask questions, share details about upcoming races and make plans for weekend runs. Once you've joined the club, you are welcome to join the group - please ask for more details when you come along. You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram.
can you help with training plans?
If you are training for a race, our run leaders and coach can help you to create a training plan to prepare. We can help you set goals, identify suitable training races and think about your nutrition/cross-training/stretching/recovery. Our leaders have taken part in lots of different races and are happy to share their experiences. Examples of training plans can be found by clicking these links: