Page last updated and checked: April 2024
Hinckley Running Club is a social and supportive community of runners of all ages and abilities in Hinckley, Leicestershire. New members are always welcome.
For out adult (senior) members our Tuesday and Thursday evening sessions provide a focus for regular running. Members also like to get together informally for other runs and especially for a Sunday morning long run. We currently have about 200 senior members.
Our juniors section provides a fun atmosphere as well as competitive opportunities in running and athletics for children aged 7 and upwards, with a weekly session on Wednesday evenings. We currently have about 100 junior members.
There are opportunities for racing throughout the year. The seniors participate in the Leicestershire Road Running League. The juniors take part in QuadKids (summer athletics) and Sportshall (winter indoor) competitions. Both the seniors and juniors enjoy Derby Runner Cross Country League in the winer months. Our members also enter a wide variety of other races of all kinds and will often be seen at the local parkruns.
Whilst the focus of the club is running, for many a huge benefit of the club is that it is a valuable local social network with opportunities to get involved, by becoming a coach, taking on a role on the committee, or helping each other out in countless other ways. Some of our members have had training to become mental health ambassadors. We even have a small but dedicated litter picking group.
We are amateur club run by its own members who volunteer in various roles on a committee. To get in touch, see the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where and when do you meet?
- Our Seniors (adults/16+) sessions are:
- On Tuesdays at 6.30pm we have a coached training session of typically 30 minutes duration. There is no fixed location and we meet all over Hinckley and Burbage, in a different place each week.
- On Thursdays at 6.30pm we meet either at Argents Mead, Hinckley or at Hastings High School, Burbage for a social run in groups of various paces (our routes).
- Full details of seniors sessions are published on our Facebook group for members only (as a free trial member you will have access to the group).
- Our Juniors (age 7+) sessions are:
- On Wednesday evenings 5.30-6.30pm at Hastings High School, Burbage. See Juniors info.
- Older juniors (12 and up) can also take part in the seniors sessions when accompanied by a responsible adult.
Are you currently accepting new members?
Yes!
How do I join, and how much does it cost to join the club?
The prices and application form are here: Membership Form
Can I come along to a training session to try it out before joining?
Yes! You can come along for up to 3 weeks before becoming a full member. We ask you first to fill in in a membership form for a free 3 week trial membership. We will then invite you to our Facebook group where you can find out about all the sessions and come along.
I’m not on Facebook…
We do recommend a Facebook account to get the most out of the club. Most of the club activities are publicised and discussed on our Facebook groups. (You are welcome to have an FB account just for using the club groups, and you don’t have to use your real name.)
I would not be able to attend all the training nights and races. Can I still join?
Yes absolutely. Everybody in the club has different lives, school, work and family schedules. Our training sessions are completely optional, as are races. Some members go to almost every session and others go to only a few or none at all.
What level of running ability is required?
At Hinckley Running Club we have a huge variety of members of all ages and experience. Everyone is welcome to join the club no matter how much running you have done before or how fast you go. However, our regular weekly sessions for Seniors are structured with the assumption that participants can already run to some extent — perhaps you have already done a “couch to 5k” course, for example. See “Weekly training sessions” below for a description of the sessions so you can judge if you are ready.
How old do I have to be?
- Minimum age for Juniors is 7. For juniors of primary school age a parent must stay throughout the session.
- Juniors aged 12 and above can participate in Seniors activities when accompanied by a parent or designated responsible adult.
- The minimum age to join the Seniors is 16.
What is England Athletics and what are the benefits of EA affiliation?
England Athletics (EA) is the governing body for the sport of athletics in England. Members of Hinckley Running Club may choose register with EA for an annual fee (currently £19), giving:
- Entry discounts (minimum £2) on UK Athletics licensed races.
- Entry to events exclusively available to registered athletes – particularly track and field and cross country events, which are only open to registered athletes.
- Receive news, offers and discounts from England Athletics.
- Support to EA’s work in developing the sport of running.
- See also EA’s Benefits of Registration.
Weekly Training Sessions
Seniors
Session prerequisities and guidance for new members
Our Seniors training sessions are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, both at 6:30pm. All sessions are free for club members.
We welcome new members and in line with our policy of inclusivity, we encourage and recommend that new members try the Tuesday sessions first, and progress to the Thursday sessions when they are comfortable running longer distances at the suggested paces.
To help you be prepared for your first session with us, here is a brief outline of our sessions, together with what you should ideally be capable of in order to enjoy them.
Tuesday speedwork
Tuesday is the night most suited to beginners. This session is a 30 minute, high intensity speed or hill interval session taking place at a fixed location, usually doing laps in a park or on a pavement loop. The details are posted each week explaining the session’s location and the structure. (See example.)
Prior to trying one of these sessions, we would recommend that you are able to run a minimum of 3 miles / 5km (the average distance covered during the session itself). There is no minimum pace expected. Remember that if you also choose to run to and from the location, you will need to be able to cover the total distance.
The sessions are in a different location each Tuesday evening, but athletes are always in close proximity of each other so if you need to rest during the session you will be able to rejoin the workout when you are ready, doing as much or as little as you wish.
Thursday social run
Our Thursday routes are posted on our Facebook page each week. Each session has a choice of two routes: a shorter route around 6 miles / 10km in length and a longer route around 10 miles / 16km in length. Attendees to the session are encouraged to comment on the post detailing which route they would like to follow and at what pace.
There are two or sometimes three groups running each route at different paces, ranging from the quickest pace at around 8 min/mile (5 min/km) to a steadier pace around 10:00 min/mile (6.2 min/km).
Before trying one of the Thursday social runs, we would ask that you are comfortable running 6 miles at the steadier pace stated above in order for you to be able to enjoy the run with one of our groups. These runs are continuous runs (ie the groups will run the route without stopping to rest) and in the Summer months we often head out to the country lanes, so it is key that you are able to run at and maintain the pace you specify for your chosen route.
If you are not sure whether you are ready to join a Thursday run please speak to any of our club coaches who will be very happy to advise you.
Wednesday evening 5.30pm is our coached running and athletics session for our Junior members, which takes place at Hastings High School in Burbage. See Hinckley Running Club Juniors page for more information. Many of the Senior club members are also coaches or volunteers for the juniors.
Parkrun
Our local parkrun is Hastings High School parkrun. This is a free weekly timed 5k for runners and walkers. Many of our members can be found there each week, either running or volunteering and can often be identified by our club vests/ hoodies etc. Feel free to chat with someone wearing Hinckley garb to ask more about the club.
Racing
As well as our weekly training sessions, lots of our members take part in a variety of races throughout the year. A major focus for the club is the Leicestershire Road Running League — a popular series of low-cost races where HRC members compete alongside runners from other local clubs. In winter months, the Derby Runner Cross Country League is a fun way to test oneself in off-road racing. Our members also enter countless other races and events of all kinds, from parkrun to marathons to track, trail, relay events, ultras, triathlons and everything else imaginable.
HRC is affiliated with England Athletics (EA), the national governing body of the sport, and club members have the option to pay an additional annual fee to register with EA. Registration offers access to a wider range of events and gives discounted entry to many races.
We are also affiliated with the Leicestershire and Rutland Athletics Association.
