Training

Training Group Plan

West Cheshire AC has adopted a Training Group Plan, to direct new and existing members towards the training group that appears to be the most suitable to their age, interests and abilities. Training sessions at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village track for members in school years 8 and below cover several disciplines in each session, to give a broad base of experience before any decision to specialise can be made. The thinking behind this is outlined in our Training Group Policy.

Our Training Groups
If you would like specific information about any of our training groups, please select “Road running”, “Cross country” or “Track and field” from the  drop-down menu option on the Contact page. For more general information, read on…

Track and field/ road (juniors and seniors)

Tuesdays and Thursdays at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, CH65 9LB. All disciplines, ages and abilities covered- sprinting, throwing, jumping, middle and longer distance running. There are also Saturday morning and Monday sessions for some groups. Tuesday sessions for the Under 13 to Under 20 Middle Distance group are on quiet pavements near Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

Track training for road and off-road runners (seniors)

As mentioned under “Track and Field” at the top of this page, there are well-structured middle- and longer-distance sessions at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Both sessions begin at 6:30pm; the Tuesday session starts with a warm-up jog on local roads, before using the track from 7pm.

Road running (seniors)

Northgate Arena Group

A great option for runners comfortably running 5km+ and looking to step up to 10km, or for 10km improvers, in a relaxed social atmosphere. We meet Monday and Thursday outside Northgate Arena, Chester CH2 2AU, at 6:20pm for a 6:30pm departure. 

Free, though all who attend regularly are encouraged to join West Cheshire AC. Turn up and speak to Emma Nutt or John Parlevliet. Changing and other facilities are not accessible to us. A list of attendees, with contact details, is taken for health and safety requirements.

Routes
Route maps are available via links and QR codes on the schedules below.

Winter 2024-25 Schedule                                Summer 2024 Schedule
Winter Routes              Longer alternatives      Summer routes                           Longer alternatives 
#1 (5.69 miles)               #1a (5.84 miles)             #1 (6.67 miles)
#2 (5.64 miles)               #2a (5.89 miles)             #2 (5.53 miles)                                Route 2b (5.73 miles)
#3 (6.21 miles)                                                        #3 (4.17 miles)
                                                                                +10 minutes fast, with intervals
#4 (5.94 miles)               #4a (6.15 miles)             #4 (6.03 miles)                                Route 4a (6.87 miles), Route 4b (6.60 miles)
#5 (6.34 miles)               #5a (6.80 miles)             #5 (7.05 miles)                                Route 5a (7.80 miles)

Cheshire County Sports Club Group

Fartlek sessions, mixing steady running at around eight minutes per mile with six faster efforts over varying distances, to suit the varying abilities in the group. We meet on Tuesdays at 6:20pm at Cheshire County Sports Club, Upton  CH2 1PR, to start runs at 6:30pm.

Free session, changing and showering facilities available at Cheshire County Sports Club, though all who attend regularly are encouraged to join West Cheshire AC. Turn up and speak to Andy Carter.

Routes
Summer #1: Barrow Winter #1: Bumpers Lane (9.3 miles)
Summer #2: Saighton Winter #2: Green Lane (10.1 miles)
Summer #3: Canal Winter #3: Moston (9.9 miles)
Summer #4: Mollington Winter #4: Westminster Park (10.7 miles)
Summer #5: Christleton Winter #5: Sandy Lane (10.5 miles)
Summer #6: Eccleston
Schedule 2022

Coaches and Events

Our current coaches and their events are (all at Ellesmere Port Sports Village unless stated otherwise):

Under 11s to Under 15s, various events: Dennis Wall, Mark Duffey, Tim Durrant, Jill Gore and Joanne Cartwright

High Jump: Jane Palmer

Long Jump, Triple Jump: Dave McKay

Throws: Dave McKay and Jenny Manning              

Hurdles: Karl Fenney

Sprints: Jonathan Moss, Victor Oyesola

300- 400m: Alan Littler

Middle Distance: Dennis Wall and Mark Duffey (Beginner/ Junior);  Ian Ackroyd, Tim Palmer, Ellie Robinson and Nick Brooks (Under 13 to Under 20); TBC (Senior)

Middle to Longer Distance – Senior: TBC

Longer Distance, Senior: John Parlevliet, Emma Nutt (from Northgate Arena, Chester); Andy Carter (from Cheshire County Sports Club, Chester)

For more information about our training groups, please feel free to get in touch.