Meet Our Coaches
Tommy Millmore Level 3
Endurance Group Coach
Gary Curtis Level 3
Junior Coach - Ages 12-17
Ed Lown Level 3 Development Coach
Age group 9 - 15 (also supervising 6 - 8 age group)
Lee Drummond
Joggers Group and Couch to 5K Coach
Zoe Towers
Joggers Group and Couch to 5K Coach
Graeme Towers
Run Leader
Stephanie Young
Run Leader
Steve Palmer
Run Leader
Assistant Coaches:
Craig Fallon, Steve Haywood, Fiona Hopkins
Training Groups
Different training sessions are planned by each coach, and vary depending on age group. The senior group may have a hill session one day, followed by a parlauf or some speed work in the following session. Other variations are relays, handicaps, pylon/lamppost sessions, and strides, with a variety of strength, speed and endurance training incorporated within the sessions.
Endurance Group Training
The squad has a range of ages from late teens upwards. We have a mixture of abilities varying from athletes who have some running background and feel confident to start training with a group, along with county, regional, national, and international athletes and all standards in between.
Training is mainly around speed endurance, and the sessions are set in a way that all athletes, no matter their current fitness or experience, will be able to take part and feel part of the squad.
We are a friendly squad of athletes who welcome everyone to come along and give it a go.
The aim is to help athletes reach their full potential, whatever that may be, but most of all enjoy their training and progress in the sport.
Training is mainly around speed endurance, and the sessions are set in a way that all athletes, no matter their current fitness or experience, will be able to take part and feel part of the squad.
We are a friendly squad of athletes who welcome everyone to come along and give it a go.
The aim is to help athletes reach their full potential, whatever that may be, but most of all enjoy their training and progress in the sport.
Joggers Group Training
Our Joggers group is a relatively new addition to Birtley AC. We started the group after the completion of one of our Couch to 5K programmes. It is based on the training principles of the endurance group, but it offers a more manageable session for those that are new to running, coming back from injury, or trying out a running club for the first time.
We offer a variety of group sessions and runs that really will suit all abilities and paces. No one ever gets left behind.
We are passionate about making our club available to runners of all levels and this group really embraces this.
As long as you can run 3 miles you will be able to manage our sessions.
The "Joggers" are a really friendly bunch, they offer support and encouragement to each other at all times . Come along and join us, you really won't regret it!
We offer a variety of group sessions and runs that really will suit all abilities and paces. No one ever gets left behind.
We are passionate about making our club available to runners of all levels and this group really embraces this.
As long as you can run 3 miles you will be able to manage our sessions.
The "Joggers" are a really friendly bunch, they offer support and encouragement to each other at all times . Come along and join us, you really won't regret it!
Routes
Below are a series of links to the Good Run Guide which has been used to plot training routes from and around Lord Lawson. These routes often incorporate sessions which can be either strength, speed or endurance depending on the route or training requirements.
- Winter 1 mile Time Trial – a time trial to measure performance.
- 3 mile loop from Lord Lawson – great warm up route before a session on the grass.
- 6.5 miles Lord Lawson/Durham Road/Chow Dean Bank/LowFell/Lord Lawson – endurance.
- 3 mile Loop around Hotels & back – can be used for speed work.
- 2 mile New Hill Loop – strength.
- 5.9 mile Sunday morning loop from Beamish – endurance.
- 9.28 miles Loop Lord Lawson/Chester le St/Waldridge – endurance.
- 6.5 miles Vigo Loop – endurance .