JUNIOR MIDDLE DISTANCE
Brighton and Hove AC are lucky to have brilliant junior middle distance coaches and have had numerous successes with their athletes. Our coaches have summarised their training sessions so you can see which group suits you best.
Under 13 and Under 15 boys and girls
Head Coach Peter Witcomb
Assistant Coach Glen Matten
Peter Witcomb coaches Under 13 and Under 15 boys and girls. Some joined the club when they were 9 years old. Olympic medallist Amber Anning started in this group 14 years ago! Others discovered they enjoyed cross country or middle distance when running at school events. Peter coaches beginners to track training but requests that new athletes are able to run / jog for 10 minutes without stopping.
Peter structures his sessions so that athletes of similar standard run together. He wants everyone to enjoy their athletics regardless of ability and have the opportunity to make new friends.
In the winter, training is focused towards cross country. U13s run 3km and U15s run 4km and there are league races across Sussex through the winter season.
Summer training is focused towards 800m and 1500m and athletes compete in numerous league and open races.
The club enters various leagues for Juniors – Sussex League and Youth Development League, venues in Sussex and the South East. These matches take place on Friday evenings or at the weekend from late spring to late summer. There are also Open meetings that athletes are encouraged to enter. It is a requirement that you are expected to compete if selected. Peter can provide more information.
Training times:
Under 13 girls and boys and Under 15 boys: Tuesday and Thursday 5pm – Withdean
Under 15 girls year 9 upwards only: Tuesday and Thursday 6pm – Withdean
All ages groups Saturday 9am usually at Stanmer Park
To make contact with Peter please email – he requests that you send him your phone number as he will call you to give more information.
Age: U15 upwards (School Year 9)
Head coach: Adam Clayton (Level 3 endurance)
Coaching assistants: Duncan Curtis and Adrian Monti
Endurance/Middle distance/Run specific training for multi sport
Distances 800m to Marathon
The current average age in our group is Year 12/13 (U17/20)
Club nights: Tuesday 6-7pm *Summer at the track, Winter at the downslink Shoreham, Thursday 6:30pm, Saturday 9-11am at Stanmer Park
Our Tuesday and Saturday sessions are more aerobic focused, including hill running, threshold running and reps with short recoveries. Thursday sessions are more speed based. A number of our group meet informally throughout the week for easy running or group long runs on a Sunday morning.
We have a very successful, supportive and inclusive squad of athletes, from those new to athletics through to national level competitors in track, cross country and triathlon. We focus on the long term progression of our athletes, building positive habits and a thriving group training environment. We value teamwork, kindness and enjoyment.
We welcome athletes of all clubs to drop-in and train with us, particularly if there are fewer athletes at your club of a similar age or standard to train with. We offer summer and winter ‘specials’ which are training sessions in the school holidays for any endurance athletes in the club, regardless of age or training group.
In the winter, our focus is on aerobic endurance and the cross country season. In the summer season we train in event specific groups, from 800m upwards. We have a number of regional academy triathletes in our training group and cater for multi sport athletes.
We are always open for new athletes to come and train with our group.
To make contact with Adam please complete this Enquiry Form
Age 16+
Coaches John Clements and Jason Jeffrey
The John & Jason running group is a highly focused happy group of runners of all abilities from age 16 that wants to improve and compete regularly for the club and maybe Sussex and if they have the desire and commitment then maybe one day for the country.
The criteria to join the group is that you want to improve and compete for the club and that you take ownership and demonstrate engagement with a can-do positive attitude. As coaches we are volunteers and all we want is to see you improve and enjoy your running to what ever level you desire.
We have over 40 years of experience in coaching hundreds of athletes competing from 400m up to marathon and the steeplechase, plus cross country racing. The training is planned and progressive throughout the year to meet the needs of the athlete and their goals and ultimately to compete as seniors athletes. We also include strength and conditioning sessions to help runners improve running technique and posture and help reduce the risk of injury. There’s also lots of fun, enjoyment and excitement at training. There’s always a buzz, even if it’s tipping down with rain.
We both coaches at the very successful Sussex endurance squad for teenagers and have extensive knowledge around the components that develops teenagers into successful senior runners if they so desire. Jason is the lead athletics coach at a private college and John coaches runners attending Sussex University.
We meet on a Tuesday at Withdean track at 6pm.
Thursday meet in Preston Park at 6pm
On a Saturday (winter Stanmer Park at 9am) or (summer at Withdean track at 10:30am)
In addition, athletes in the group also meet up for runs together around parks or on the Southdowns or only the seafront.
To make contact with John and Jason, please complete this Enquiry Form