Got a question about Penny Lane Striders? The chances are that you'll find the answer below. If not, contact us here.
Membership
how do i join?
can i try you out before joining?
Yes, prospective members are welcome to participate in some of our training sessions before deciding whether to join.
how much does it cost to join?
Adult membership for 2019-20 costs £30, of which £15 goes directly to UK Athletics to pay for affiliation. Reduced rates are available for students or those not currently earning a wage (see below)
do you offer discounted membership rates for students or unemployed?
Yes. If you are not earning a wage or a student, annual membership costs £20 (Split £5 to Penny Lane Striders, £15 to England Athletics)
what is the age range of your membership?
We have a large membership of all ages and abilities. Our youngest members are under 20 whilst our oldest members are over 75.
is there a minimum age?
16 is the minimum age for membership of Penny Lane Striders.
do you run sessions for children or junior runners?
Currently we do not offer membership or training sessions for under-16s.
how do i renew my membership?
what social events do you have?
During the course of the year we organise a number of social events that all members can participate in if they wish. Amongst others we hold an annual Christmas party and a post-run Christmas breakfast.
i already run with an athletics club. can i also run as a member of penny lane striders?
Yes. England Athletics employ the concept of a 'second claim' club. You can only race for one club and that is your first claim club, however if you already run for another club but wish to join Penny Lane Striders as a 'second claim' so that you can participate in our training sessions, that is fine!
Second claim membership for 2019-20 costs £16, or £6 if you are not earning a wage.
Second claim membership for 2019-20 costs £16, or £6 if you are not earning a wage.
how do i switch running clubs, either to join or leave penny lane striders?
If you are leaving Penny Lane Striders and wish to join another club, or if you wish to join another club as a 'first claim' member and change your Penny Lane Striders membership to 'second claim' you will need to submit a “Change of Club” form to England Athletics along with a £10 fee to change clubs. The club secretary can assist you in this process. If you are leaving another club and joining Penny Lane Striders as your 'first claim' club you also need to submit a “Change of Club” form, but you’ll need assistance from the club you are leaving as they will need to complete parts of the form.
how many people are members of penny lane striders?
As at March 2020 there were just over 350 members of Penny Lane Striders.
Kit
do i need to buy lots of expensive running clothing?
During the dark hours of winter, if you are running outside then we strongly recommend that you wear reflective and/or highly visible, light-coloured clothing for the safety of yourself and others.
The rest of the time, strictly speaking nobody 'needs' any special clothing for running. However, a 'technical' running top made from material that draws moisture away from the skin is much less likely to leave you in a sweaty mess than a standard, cotton top.
The rest of the time, strictly speaking nobody 'needs' any special clothing for running. However, a 'technical' running top made from material that draws moisture away from the skin is much less likely to leave you in a sweaty mess than a standard, cotton top.
do i need to buy a penny lane striders vest?
You don't need to purchase a vest, however if you choose to participate in races then in some instances you will need to be wearing a vest in order to count as a runner for Penny Lane Striders. Examples are Northwest Sunday Cross Country League (NWSCCL) fixtures, and races that count towards the Merseyside Grand Prix. If you are unsure whether to wear a vest for an event that you are planning to take part in, consult one of our group leaders.
where do i buy a club vest?
Club vests can be purchased on training nights. They are made of lightweight technical material and available in male or female fit. Each vest costs £20: card and cash payments on the night are accepted.
which running shoes should i buy?
There are a couple of things to bear in mind if you are considering spending a fortune on running shoes. Firstly, training and perseverance makes you a better runner. Buying expensive shoes doesn't, whatever the adverts might say. Secondly, there's no link that we're aware of between the amount that you spend on running shoes and the likelihood of getting injured wearing them. If you manage to find a make or model of shoe that is comfortable and allows you to run injury-free, whether they cost £20 or £120 our advice would be simple: stick with them!
do i need to buy a special watch?
No. Watches that enable you to track your running pace and mileage can be useful, however there is no requirement to run with one. For training sessions that involve set mileage or times, your group leader will use their own watch to manage the session.
Training
where do you run?
In normal times our formal training sessions start from Garston Lifestyles sports centre, however given the present situation with the COVID pandemic we are organising sessions on an ad-hoc basis away from the sports centre. The routes that we take depend on the type of session that we are running, but generally see us passing through Allerton, Mossley Hill, Woolton, Aigburth or Cressington.
when do you run?
In normal times our formal training sessions begin at 6:45pm each Tuesday and Thursday. Warm-up sessions are held in Garston Sports Centre at 6:15pm, and we usually begin running at around 7:00pm after the club notices have been read.
how much do your training sessions cost?
Unlike most other running clubs in the area, our club sessions are - and will always be - completely free! As a member the only cost you will incur is the annual membership fee of £26.
how far do you run?
For speedwork or interval sessions, by the time we have warmed up, held the session and then cooled down on the run back to the sports centre, we will have run for anywhere up to 5 miles. Our Thursday sessions are run at a slower pace but over a greater distances: generally you will cover between 6-8 miles depending on the route and the ability of the group.
For more information about our training routes, visit this page.
For more information about our training routes, visit this page.
how fast do you run?
It very much depends on the group you are running with and the type of session that is being held. Our very fastest runners are capable of running 10k in under 38 minutes and will run short interval sessions at a pace well under 6 mins/mile. In contrast, longer runs in groups 4-5 can be run at 10mins/mile pace or slower.
are there changing facilities available?
Yes, when open Garston Lifestyles has full changing and showering facilities available
what if i can't make it to every training session?
No problem. You are free to come to as many or as few of our training sessions as you like!
will you teach me about running technique?
All of our leaders are experienced runners who know the local area and are fully insured to deliver safe and enjoyable running sessions. Many also hold the UK Athletics 'Leaders in Running Fitness' qualification, Although they can give you advice based on their own experiences and provide links to articles and other resources to do with running technique, they are not running coaches as such.
which group should i run with?
You can run with whichever group you want to! We have five training groups, so simply choose whichever one is most suitable for your ability or current fitness level. If you are unsure which group to run with, our group leaders will be on hand to advise.
do you have women-only training sessions?
Currently all of our training groups cater for both sexes. If you would prefer to run in a women-only group, Active Women is an excellent local alternative: see this page for further details.
can i run with my dog?
Some of our members do run with their dogs during informal runs or at events such as parkrun, however we're unable to accommodate them in our regular training sessions due to the additional risk and possible disruption that it would bring to the session.
do you offer sessions for complete beginners?
Complete beginners are welcome to join Group 5, and even if you have never run before you will be surprised at how quickly you can build up your fitness and running ability. That said we recognise that not everybody will want to join a club from the outset, in which case there are some excellent local alternatives such as the GetGoing Garston! and Active Women running groups. Further details can be found on this page.
will i get left behind?
Absolutely not. Our sessions are split into five groups to cater for all abilities of runner, and during the sessions themselves runners who find themselves at the front of their group are expected to 'loop back' to the last runner.
can i move between groups?
Yes, runners are free to move between groups. If keeping pace with your group is proving difficult then moving to a lower group is fine: equally if you are way out front and finding it easy, it's probably time to challenge yourself by moving up a group!
do you hold sessions on a running track?
Garston Lifestyles Centre does not have an athletics track so for speedwork or interval sessions, we use quiet sections of local roads such as Cressington Square or the Estuary Business Park. An increasing number of our runners also take part in weekly track sessions at Wavertree Sports Centre, which pre-pandemic was held every Friday at 6:30pm in conjunction with runners from Mossley Hill AC and Dockside Runners.
Further details and maps can be found on our Training Routes page
Further details and maps can be found on our Training Routes page
Racing
will i be expected to run races?
No! Whether or not you enter races is completely up to you. We have many members who train regularly, but rarely if ever race. That said, racing as part of a team is hugely enjoyable and once you've entered and completed your first race, the sense of acheivement is enormous.
does everyone run marathons?
No. Some of our members have run a marathon, some have run several marathons, and some have no intention of ever running a marathon! How far you run and what races (if any) you enter is entirely up to you.
when is the penny lane striders 10k race?
Other Bits and Pieces
how do i become a running group leader?
If you are interested in becoming a group leader, speak to any of the current group leaders before or after a training session.
can the club introduce a triathlon section?
Penny Lane Striders backs all community-based sport in Liverpool and the surrounding area. If a triathlon section of the club is supported and we have the necessary volunteers to help this work, the committee would be very supportive. If you are interested in getting involved please let a member of the committee know.