Uckfield Runners (previously Utopia Runners until September 2011) caters for runners of all abilities: from beginners and joggers who just want someone to run with once or twice a week, to runners who wish to compete on a regular basis. Our members compete in events ranging from under 5k to the full marathon. We are keen supporters of the Sussex Grand Prix and the East Sussex Sunday Cross Country league. Our abilities range from those that can run a 10k in under 40 minutes to those that take over an hour and to those who wouldn’t wish to run a 10k at all. All we look for is an interest in running whether to compete or just to get a bit fitter. From the slow sure jogger to the lean mean running machine, from the under 20 to the over 60 you are welcome to come along.
We are affiliated to the UKA (UK Athletics). Membership will give you a discount at most races.
We have 5 sessions during the week and a trail run is organised on some weekends. Please see the TRAINING tab for full details of the sessions.
A summary of the session we run is as below (note in below a beginner is someone who is not yet able to run 5k.
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Monday 9.30am - Dayle 5k and 5 mile options (may be trail with Graham) from the Leisure Centre. Suitable for beginners onwards.
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Tuesday 6.30pm - Chris, Stephen or Holly 5k run from Freedom Leisure. Suitable for beginners onwards.
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Tuesday 6.30pm - Gemma structured training session from Uckfield rugby club Summer, Freedom Leisure Winter: this is not suitable for beginners but neither do you need to be 'super quick'.
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Thursday 7.30pm - Chris (Christopher) 5k run from Leisure Centre. Suitable for beginners onwards.
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Thursday 7.00pm - Emma 5k and 5 mile options(with Graham) run from Victoria Park. Suitable for beginners onwards.
- Sunday am- Trail run may be organised usually about 10k. These are advertised on Facebook.
Apart from the specific weekend trail runs in the summer many of the evening runs will also be off road. Trail shoes are recommended for the trail runs in the winter. In the winter on the last Thursday of each month there is often a torch and trail run from Victoria park.
Please see training tab for further details of each of the above runs.
Beginners/Joggers
Any of the 5k groups are suitable for non runners or beginners. If you are a non runner initially someone will do walk jog routine with the aim of reaching the stage when you are able to jog for 45 minutes
Which Group?
On both Monday morning and Thursday from Victoria park there is the option of a 5k or 5 mile run. The 5k runs will split by groups of differing abilities: these groups are suitable for beginners. The 5 mile run will usually stay as a single group but it is a social run with plenty of re groups (especially if doing a trail run: the Monday am group is trail all year, the Thursday 5 mile is trail in the summer (when light allows (April to early September and in the winter torch and trail last Thursday of each month).
There is a structured training session on Tuesday evening for those looking to improve their general fitness further or looking to train for a race. The session generally last about an hour and will include some warm up exercises and about 10k for running. The sessions consist of hills or other reps. The reps period is based on time so you do not need to be of any particular pace just looking to increase your pace: the session is as hard as you want to make it. In the summer the reps are in Buxted Park (once a month in Ashdown Forest) and we meet 6:30pm at Uckfield Rugby club in the winter the reps are in Uckfield Town and we meet 6:30pm at Freedom Leisure.
Further information
For bit more information on what we do click on the Training or Racing tab above. For pictures from events (races and club runs) click on Photos. We are also on Facebook which will have posts from recent events and about events coming up. If you are interested in the Beginners/Joggers group click on the beginners tab above. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us.
Committee
The club is run by a Committee which consist of:
Emma Bussey - Chairman, Social sub committee and Thursday Victoria Park Run Leader
Sam (Samantha) Kedwards - Social sub committee
Stephen Green - Finance Officer and Membership Secretary, Run Leader on some Tuesday 5k runs and assists with Thursday 5k Victoria Park
Graham West - Events Officer and Website ledas some 5 mile runs and trail sunday runs.
Chris Lugg - Club kit, Welfare Officer, Social sub committee and Thursday Freedom Leisure Run Leader and some Tues 5k run
Holly Ryder - Leads some Tuesday eing 5k runs
Gary Chown - Social sub committee
See more photos of runners in our club here.