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[Benefits] [Affiliations] [Races] [Other events] [Keep in touch] [Club kit] [Charities] [Organisation] [Committee]

We are a more serious running club than you might think from the name but, above all, we are a very enthusiastic group of people who love running and enjoy the company of other runners. We think we have a great balance between all types of runners: fast and slow; old and young; male and female; experienced and newcomers. Those of us who joined quite recently have found it a very friendly atmosphere. It is also the best £5 investment you will ever make, as you will save lots of money on running gear (read on for more details).

We have plenty of activities to suit all tastes. As well as the regular weekly gatherings, our members and teams enter and organise various competitions through the year. We always have a large contingent entering the London Marathon and we make sure that all running events are combined with proper social events; we have sometimes been called a drinking club with a running problem.

We were founded in 1981 and have been pounding the streets and parks of South West London ever since. Our distinctive footprint and eye catching yellow shirts can be seen from a long way off. Many of the founder members are still with us and we have members in all parts of the world. Currently we have nearly 500 paid up members of whom about 100 turn up on Thursdays.

So, if you have moved to the area and want to find a new running club; or if you run a bit on the treadmill at the Gym but want to get outdoors; or if you are just taking up the sport, please read on.

Benefits

As we promised, there are some tangible financial benefits from belonging to the Stragglers.

One of the great intangible advantages of membership is that you will always be able to find a Straggler to help you with your training, advise you on a particular event, commiserate with your latest injury or discuss what sort of socks you should wear for your first marathon. It really does help people’s running to have plenty of contact with other runners. [Top] [Home]

Come for a run

Our main group meets on Thursday evenings starting with a 'social mile' at 7:30, followed by various groups running from 3-4 miles upwards. New runners are always welcome, you will be sure to find a group running at your pace and distance.

Little Feet meet on Monday evenings also at 7:30. Again different groups set off to run various distances but the emphasis is on gentle and shorter runs for the beginner (or the injured/tired and emotional/hungover...)
As well as Little Feet, there is an alternative Monday evening run: meet at the Hampton Hill gate into Bushy Park (the main traffic gate, near the Longford River bridge) with a social gathering at the Rising Sun in Hampton Hill High Street afterwards.

As we approach the London Marathon, there are Sunday morning runs from Hawker Leisure. Note that these start at 10:00 - NOT 9:30 or 10:30 as has sometimes been announced

Affiliations

We are fully affiliated to the relevant local and national athletic organisations. This means that all members can enter races at the affiliated fee and can enter "closed" races and championships for which they are eligible, either as individuals or as members of a Stragglers team. For example, we always send a team to the National Cross Country Championships. [Top] [Home]

Races

[Cross country] [London Marathon] [Races we organise]

So how seriously do we really take our running? It is not compulsory to enter any races at all but we do have Stragglers entering and on occasion winning local races, busily comparing notes on their PBs (Personal Best times). We also have a large number of members who enjoy entering races for the atmosphere and occasion, and for a beer or two afterwards. The local racing calendar is full and there are good events throughout the year, some for individuals, some for teams.

You will see Stragglers at most road races in London and the South East and often further afield. If you are wearing a Straggler vest, even in New York or Dublin or France, it is highly likely that you will be spotted and encouraged. [Top] [Home]

Other awaydays and weekends

The members of this club seem to like interesting or challenging races wherever they are. Some people have been going to the same event year after year and have gradually roped in others to go as well. Normally the arrangements are informal - a couple of car loads or a minibus - but others need a great deal of organisation, especially those outside the UK. They are all highly recommended for some enjoyable running and good social company.

Some of the main UK races we go to (as well as cross country events, the Green Belt Relay and the London Marathon, covered already) are:

- The Norfolk Relay:

A road relay over two days in September, this year on 14th & 15th, run round the county boundary of Norfolk, not as flat as you might expect.

- The Welsh Castles Relay:

A two day, 220 mile, 20 stage road relay from Caernarvon to Cardiff. At the sharp end the standard is very high, but there is also keen competition among the slower teams. Entries are limited but we usually enter a team if we can.

Some Stragglers groups have also ventured abroad at various times - to Bruges, Dieppe, Gravelines and to Ballycotton in Ireland.

Keep in touch

As well as Keith Haworth’s weekly announcements in the bar, there are four main means of communication with the membership.

• Our magazine Stragmag appears every two months and provides an entertaining and informative read. It contains various articles on all aspects of running, including detailed members’ accounts of events and expeditions they have been to. So please put finger to keyboard and get writing. It also has plenty of factual information and diary items. It is free to all members.
• The Diary is where you can record your race results or future racing plans, so that you may be able to meet up with people needing or offering a lift to an event. The Diary is at Hawker Leisure in the bar every Thursday.
• The Box is the source of all entry forms for future races, arranged in date order - again circulating at Hawker Leisure. So, emboldened by a couple of pints of Directors, you can plan your ambitious racing schedules.
• Our Notice Board at Hawker Leisure contains up to date information on all Stragglers activities.

[Top] [Home]

Club kit

## is Kit Secretary and brings a selection of Stragglers kit every Thursday evening at Hawker Leisure: T shirts, vests, running tights, fetching yellow shorts, he’s got them all. [Top] [Home]

Charities

The Stragglers do a lot for charities, including donations from the proceeds of some of our own events. Generally we leave it up to individual members to take the initiative. In 1991, our 10th Anniversary year, we had a series of events; in 1995 a group of Stragglers organised a JOGLE (John o'Groats to Land’s End) continuous relay of 1000 miles; in summer 1998 our Life President (and a founder member) John Barrow ran his declared last ever marathon and, despite ending up on a saline drip, managed to raise a lot of money for various charities, and in 2001, our 20th anniversary year, several special events were held,again raising funds for various charities.
Look in our diary to find out more.[Top] [Home]

[Top] [Home]

[Benefits] [Affiliations] [Races] [Other events] [Keep in touch] [Club kit] [Charities] [Organisation] [Committee]