Athletics Club
The Athletics Club is primarily a social running club both on the road and cross-country.
We meet at the football changing rooms weekday lunchtimes at around 12:10pm. From there we tend to head off in several small groups to run on local country roads and footpaths, around the Rec. Soc. pitches or in the nearby Wasing Woods where we buy a permit that allows us to run on their privately owned, traffic-free tracks and paths.
Just turn up and join in with someone that wants to run a similar session.
In the summer the Rec. Soc. also marks out a 400m line for those that wish to do some sprint or interval training.
The club runs its own competition - a 'Pursuit' (i.e. handicapped) run on the second Wednesday of each month. Two distances are available: 3.1 miles, which is entirely cross country, and 5.5 miles which includes about 25% road. Handicaps are set according to ability with the aim that everyone completes the course at around the same time to make for an exciting finish.
The emphasis of the club is on social runs, mainly at lunchtime. Some of our members enter local races including the Reading and Basingstoke Half-Marathons, the Tadley and Newbury 10ks and the London Marathon.
To join the Athletics Club you do need to be a "Recreational" member of the Rec. Soc. The Athletics Club has an annual fee which is currently £10.
Our members cover all abilities and new runners are always welcome.