Sevenoaks Ladies Joggers: FAQs

What if I’ve never run before?

Then join our 10 week beginners Course. It’s designed for women who are
completely new to running or have not run for a long time.

What if I can’t come on the first Beginners course session?

We’ll accept beginners starting in the second week but not after that. Sorry.

How does the course work?

We follow a walk/run programme, starting with very short bursts of running
and gradually building up. We’ll also ask you to do ‘homework’ once a week
to build up your stamina. This will involve repeating pretty much what
you’ve done with your coach.

What if I can’t keep up with the others on the Beginners course?

We build up so gradually that you’ll be fine. Your coach will show you how
to run slowly enough to keep going, and the whole spirit of the group is to
stick together and look after each other so that no one ever gets left
behind. The coach will ensure that, if the head of the group gets too far
ahead of the tail, the front runners simply peel off and run to the back, or
run a little extra loop, until we are back in a tight group again.

What does the course cost?

The course costs £60 for 10 weeks, including tuition and advice from your
coach.

What happens at the end of the course?

You can enter our three-mile Beginners’ Fun Run - just to prove to yourself
that you really can run that distance! It doesn’t matter where you finish,
everyone gets a medal and it’s lots of fun. After that, if you feel you’d
like to keep up your new-found fitness, you can come to any of our main
groups and keep running with us.

What do I do when the course is over?

If you’ve enjoyed running, you can keep running with us on a regular basis
on a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday morning or Wednesday evening throughout
the year.

How do I join?

Email us through this website or phone Sam on 07801 254334.

I’m a bit nervous about coming on my own. Will I be all right?

Of course! This is a great group to join since it is so friendly. You will
find yourself running alongside a wide variety of women and chatting away as
you go. It’s very sociable, and the coach is very good at getting everybody
talking!

Do you have any age restrictions?

We welcome any woman over the age of 16. The majority of our members are
between 30 and 60 but we have many older and younger runners amongst our
membership.

I suffer from asthma. Can I still run?

Several of our ladies have asthma. They simply carry an inhaler to be on the
safe side. If in doubt, check with your doctor.

I’m overweight. Can I still run?

Yes. In fact, you’ll probably find that you will lose some weight when you
start running, or certainly that you’ll feel and look trimmer. Running
combined with dieting is an excellent way to lose weight but, if in doubt,
or if you are very overweight, you should check with your doctor first.

What should I wear?

A sweatshirt or T-shirt and leggings, or track-suit bottoms, are fine.
You’ll also find that you’ll need a sports bra. In the summer many women
wear shorts or Capri length tights and a running vest but it’s up to you.
You’ll want to buy some good running shoes eventually but just wear trainers
or similar suitable shoes, at first.

I already run, do I still have to join the Beginners’ Course?

No. If you can run three or four miles on your own then you are welcome to
join us at any time. Most people find that they can run much further with a
group than they can alone. Just come along on a Monday, Wednesday or
Saturday morning at 9.15 or Wednesday evening at 7.30 and try it out.

Where do you run?

We usually run in beautiful Knole Park in Sevenoaks. In the evenings when it
is dark, we stick to well-lit roads and footpaths.

How far and how fast do you run?

After the beginners’ course, you can move on to running with our main group,
which will take you up to between four and five miles over time. These runs
will take between an hour and an hour and a quarter to complete. The
beginners certainly run very slowly to start with. The more experienced
runners usually cover a mile in 10 to 12 minutes which is comfortable for
most people.

Is it safe?

If anyone falls over or twists an ankle, there is always a companion
available to call for help. We never leave anyone behind, and we all help
and encourage each other. Our coaches are all first aid trained and are UK
Athletics qualified, and will look after you.

Will I be expected to come every week?

For the beginners'course consistency is key, so we encourage you to come
every week. If you can’t come on your usual day for some reason, you are
welcome to come to another beginners’ session to make up for it. After the
Beginners’ Course you can run with us three times a week or three times a
year, it's entirely up to you.

How much is it to join?

The annual membership costs just £30 for a full year or £15 if you join part
way through the year. Coached runs cost £3.50 each, and you buy a strip of
ten tickets which you can use at any time, on any of our runs, so that you
only pay for the runs you attend.

Do you still run in the rain?

Very definitely yes! The weather rarely stops us, and then only if it would
be actually unsafe to run.

Do I need to buy special running shoes?

No, a pair of ordinary trainers will do for a start, but after a while it
may be worth getting some advice from a specialist running shop. You will
want to buy a running bra as well. As a Sevenoaks Ladies Joggers member you
can, on production of your membership card, get a discount at Sweatshop in
Maidstone.

Will it help me lose weight?

You'll burn around 100 calories per mile and running will also help to boost
your metabolism. Of course, if you reward yourself for going out on a run by
going home and eating a cream doughnut it may take slightly longer for you
to shift those extra pounds!