Brecon Athletic Club - Happy Feet Runners
Here is a welcome message to you all from Kirsty Wade - our Club President & Welsh Athletic Star ! video
Happy Feet Runners Information
Happy Feet Runners is affiliated to Brecon Athletic Club. We cater for all abilities, from novice runners who can manage a 5km, to those that have been running for a little while and enjoy the company of others for their runs.
We meet twice a week outside Brecon Job Centre, Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm – 7pm. There are five ability groups, lead by Welsh Athletics Run leaders, following a pre-determined route. We post our route maps and chats on a WhatsApp group, for anyone that is a member.
Club runs are social training sessions, not races. It is good training practice to run below your fastest speed. Whilst it is great to do fast times and segment personal bests, this is not the main purpose of club runs.
Yellow Group: Couch to 5km recent graduates and steady pace runners with plenty of ‘catch up’ where needed. Pace 6.40+ min/km (10.00 - 10.30 min/mile). Distance Approx 5.5km.
Green Group: Steady runners that need occasional catch-up breaks who wish to run a little faster then Yellow Group. Pace 6.20 - 6.40 min/km (10.00 -10.30 min/mile). Distance Approx 5.5km.
Turquoise Group: A ‘moving up’ group for runners happy with ‘Green’ pace but would like to go a bit further. Pace 6.20 - 6.40 min/km (10.00 -10.30 min/mile). Distance Approx 7.5km.
Blue Group: For more experienced runners, the blue group pace is slightly faster than Turquoise. Pace 6.00 - 6.20 min/km (9.30 - 10.00 min /mile). Distance Approx 7.5km.
Purple Group: This is for experienced runners comfortable with a faster pace and few stops. Anyone wanting to run faster within the group may be asked to run ahead but loop back to the group. Pace 5.40 -6.00 min/km (9.00 - 9.30 min/mile). Distance Approx 7.5km.
We also have a ‘Hill’ and ‘Track’ session once a month, and this gets posted on our WhatsApp group.
No one EVER gets left behind! We finish our sessions with a short stretch session at the start/finish point.
Membership of Happy Feet
Happy Feet is part of Brecon Athletics Club. To be able to run with the club and Happy Feet, you need to join the club. The first couple of sessions are free if you just want a try first, then sign up to Brecon AC as a Social Member (£15 per year) or Fully Affiliated Welsh Athletics member (£39 per year). Please see ‘Membership’ within this website.
Once you become a member, we can add you up to our Members What’sApp group, where you will receive twice weekly update on the session routes. It’s also a place for running chat and support!
When you have joined the club, please email Siân Williams (Social Running Secretary), on the address below, and you will be added to the closed members WhatsApp group.
Guidelines for all runners
Please take responsibility for being ready to run, warmed up and suitably dressed for each session.
If you have any medical conditions eg: Asthma, bee allergy or diabetes, please ensure you share this information with the run leader.
All runners are encouraged to put their medical information and next of kin contacts on their phone (see link below).
iPhones & Samsung phones allow this information to be accessed by others from the home screen in an emergency.
Wear reflective clothing and wear headtorches/lights during hours of darkness.
All runners must be responsible for their own road safety.
Where runs cross a road at a Pedestrian Controlled Crossing (PCC) we will use these as a catch up point.
Runners will regroup with their front and rear marker run leaders and cross as a group using the safety of the red light afforded by the PCC.
Please do not wear headphones unless they are bone conduction ones. You need to hear if the run leader shouts an instruction.
Look to place yourself in the appropriate group based on your ability, fitness, and the type of training you want to do on that occasion.
Do not run if you are ill or injured. Those recovering from injury should join a slower group than usual.
Inform the run leader of any illness or injury concerns you are aware of.
Stay within close contact of all other members unless a split has been agreed with the run leader.
Warn other runners around you of any impending hazards (obstacles, traffic, bikes, holes, animals etc)
Look out for, and encourage, the other runners within your group, particularly new participants.
Look out for those who are falling back or consistently at the back. This will require looking behind occasionally.
If you are struggling, or feeling unwell, inform the run leader so they can take appropriate action.
Notify the run leader if you are stopping or leaving the run for whatever reason (or if that’s not possible, another member of the group)
If you sustain an accident during the run, please inform the run leader immediately.
Medical Conditions
All members of the club declare themselves medically fit to run at their own risk and shall not hold the club responsible for any incident occurring through a personal medical condition or injury. Members with any medical conditions agree where appropriate to carry with them the relevant details of the condition and their name, address and emergency phone number contact details. Voluntary disclosure of medical conditions shall be the responsibility of the individual member or their carer in circumstances where they consider an individual risk assessment approach to their welfare may be appropriate.
Running Safely Useful Links
General Guidance for pedestrians - https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/rules-for-pedestrians.html
Crossing the road - https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/rules-for-pedestrians-crossing-the-road.html
Using crossings - https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/rules-for-pedestrians-crossings.html
Welsh Athletics guidance - https://www.welshathletics.org/en/blog/post/running-in-the-dark-safety-tips
The Running Channel - Everything you need to know about running in the dark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA21WOBxBKo
iPhone- https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph08022b192/ios
Couch to 5km
Are you interested in running/jogging for health and fitness, but don’t know how to start? Couch to 5km training is great for beginners or those returning to running. Make friends and have fun!
We offer two courses starting in January and September each year - for adults over 18. Everyone is supported to go at their own pace. Our course is led by trained volunteers and licensed Welsh Athletics Leaders in Running Fitness (LiRF).
We get lots of good feedback!
" I loved the course. All of the leaders were very encouraging and supportive, thank you all. This is a fantastic opportunity for those who want to get fit, help with their mental health or meet new friends, please keep doing it."
Courses are held on MONDAYS and THURSDAYS 6.00 – 7.00pm for 10 weeks. They usually take place at Penlan Athletic track or another suitable location. We conclude with a celebration parkrun event. The course costs £20.00, which also provides social membership of Brecon AC
To enquire about the next ‘Couch to 5km’ course, please email happyfeetbac@gmail.com .