Road running is one of the most popular and accessible sports in the world. England has always been at the forefront of road running and that is why it takes an important place within the work of England Athletics.

If you’re an endurance coach, a member of a road running club or organise local road races, you can benefit from our support programme for road running. For details download the full brochure from the right hand side of this page.

Essential information on road running

Click on the appropriate bullet point to find out more about:

• Run In England & becoming a running group leader
• Our Road Running eBulletin
• England Athletics Road Running programme
• Flying Coach visits
• RunBritain services for runners and race directors
• Coach development for endurance coaches
  
• Getting involved in road running
• and more...
  

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Run in England

Run in England is about providing everyone with the opportunity to get active and begin running for fun and fitness. For clubs it is an ideal way of recruiting new members and increasing their presence in the local communities.

Run In England brings running and fun to the heart of our communities, at times of the day and venues to suit everyone, including complete beginners. Our running groups can be found throughout the country – at gyms, schools, companies and in the local community.  For details, please visit www.runinengland.co.uk.  Run in England also now provide free event packs for for organisers of new community running events.  See their website for details.  You can also watch a video "From LiRF to Leader" on the RIE website.

Run in England is NOT a club with a competition licence. It will support new runners and signpost them to their local clubs.  On the proven basis of ‘follow my leader’, significantly more runners would progress to club running if they knew that the supportive, informed Leader who has steered them through their first painful steps would also be at an affiliated club to welcome and introduce them.  A potential model for such a partnership is outlined in the document "Working with England Athletics affiliated clubs" which you can download from the right hand side of this page.

Become a running group leader - Leadership in Running Fitness qualification

A special qualification exists to help people who want to lead running groups whether as part of a club, as part of the Run In England project or in other situations. This qualification is called Leadership in Running Fitness. The course will enable a leader to deliver fun and safe sessions to multi-ability groups and give advice and support to the new runner, as well as developing pathways for those who want to progress.  It focuses on understanding and overcoming barriers to participation in running and how to increase participation by those not traditionally attracted to a running club.  On completion of the course the attendee will be a qualified and insured leader and issued with a leader’s ID card.  To find out more visit www.runinengland.co.uk/lirf

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New eBulletin now online

A new communication bulletin for road runners is now available online for you to read.  This newsletter should keep you updated on our support programmes for Road Running Clubs.  To read it, please click here.

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Road running competition programme 2010

5k entry form now online.  England Athletics' road running competition programme for 2010 is now available. For details please click here. The programme includes domestic competitions including national championships as well as development opportunities for athletes at international level. Details of more events will be announced when available.

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Flying Coach

The Flying Coach programmes see the likes of former Chicago Marathon winner Paul Evans and World Champion coach John Anderson deployed out to local running clubs. The Flying Coach scheme has proved very popular with both athletes and coaches as it works to help both to develop. Clubs can work together to host the sessions where this is appropriate. Specialist retailer Sweatshop have agreed a deal which see them financially supporting the project between autumn 2008 and 2011.

Flying Coach visits typically take place over a number of weeks to ensure that coaches maximise the development opportunities from them. To find out more please click here.

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Runbritain.com - for runners

The website, runbritain.com exists for road runners and road race organisers. The principal aims of RunBritain are increasing participation, raising performance, improving event standards, supporting race organisers, addressing any threats to road running and raising funds to channel into road running.

The website has extensive race listings of all the licensed road running events in the UK at www.runbritain.com/events/

You can also visit runbritain.com to find out more about subjects such as training and nutrition. The RunBritain project ensures that funds raised by road running - particularly the race licence fees – are invested for the benefit of road running.

RunBritain.com - for race directors

RunBritain also works to help race directors. Information and online race licensing is available at the Race Directors Portal at www.runbritain.com/rdp. A new (non-profit making) on-line road race entry system has also been developed and is available at www.runbritain.com/rdp now.

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Coach development for endurance coaches

England Athletics has a mentoring structure to allow coaches of all levels to develop. We have a team specially dedicated to raising the standards of endurance coaching in England. Our National and Area Coach Mentors include Dave Sunderland, Martin Rush, Bud Baldaro, Lindsay Dunn and Neville Taylor. To find out details including how to get involved please see www.englandathletics.org/ncm. 

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Getting involved in road running

The diversity of athletics is fully reflected in road running with participation ranging from elite athletes through to recreational runners. England Athletics works to cater for all types of road runner. Much of the provision of these services is done through clubs. These clubs have incredibel diversity and are able to provide appropriate advice, coaching, support and competition for a range of runners. If you are not already a member of a club we recommend that you join one. To find a club please go to www.englandathletics.org/clubfinder. Once you are a member you can become a registered athlete and will benefit from other advantages such as cheaper entry into road races. For more information for athletes click here.

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Moving clubs

If you are moving between clubs you should be aware of the process for this. Please see the document ‘England Athletics - Eligibility Process Map’ below which will ensure you understand the process involved in this. More information is available in the clubs section of this website. You will also need a copy of the form ‘Change of first claim club - February 2008’. You may be given this form by your club or you can download it from the right hand side of this page.

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British Association of Road Races

A lot of good work on road running in England is also carried out by the British Association of Road Races (BARR). The aim of the BARR is to foster and promote safe and well organised road running in the United Kingdom.

The BARR has four objectives. Two are on behalf of events:

• To maintain and review a Code of Practice for the benefit of competitors and the efficient management of both road and multi-terrain events
• To be a membership organisation leading to the exchange of information, knowledge and best practice amongst members of the association.

Two are on behalf of UK Athletics:

• To act as their official agent monitoring and policing Race Licence Standards
• To act as the official and national race grading body including both the setting and assessing of those standards.

To find out more go to http://www.barr-online.org.uk/