New Members
Whether you’re running to make friends, keep fit or compete in races, we’d love to welcome you to the club.
We encourage new members to come along to one of our Wednesday evening sessions at 6.30pm at the Eynsham pavilion. This is our main club run of the week, where you can meet others and enjoy a social run (usually of 4-8 miles, with off-road options in the summer). Please email us at eynsham.err@gmail.com to let us know you’ll be coming along, so we can introduce you to everyone and make you feel welcome.
ERR will support you to achieve your running goals – whether it’s completing your first 5k, smashing your PBs, celebrating a podium place or just running with others and discovering new routes in the lovely Oxfordshire countryside.
You can get involved at whatever level suits you. If you just want to turn up for the odd club run to be with others and discover new routes, that’s great. If you’re busy during the week but want to run competitively for a club, that’s fine too. There is no pressure.
Still not sure? We’ve put together these Q&As that we hope will allay any fears you may have about joining a running club. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, just ask.
We look forward to welcoming you to Eynsham Roadrunners!
Q&As for new members
I haven’t done much running before – is that a problem?
We recommend that to get the most out of our club runs you should be able to jog continuously for at least 20-30 minutes. If you need a gentle start then consider completing our ‘couch to 5k’ course, You Can Run. Parkrun is another great place to start, and many Eynsham Roadrunners are regular runners and volunteers at the Harcourt Hill and Oxford parkruns. If you aren’t familiar with parkrun, it’s a free, timed 5k event which takes place at 9am every Saturday and welcomes runners and walkers of all abilities.
If you’ve just graduated from the couch to 5k or are already a keen parkrunner, then why not take the next step and join our club.
Can I try the club out before joining?
Of course. You are welcome to come along to the club for a few weeks to meet everyone and try things out before joining. After that time, if you would like to join (and we very much hope that you will), then we ask you to complete a membership form – see the Membership page for details.
What happens at the Wednesday club sessions?
The Wednesday club social runs start at the Eynsham pavilion. Most people come ready to run but there are changing facilities if you need them. There is usually a short intro from our chair where any announcements are made about results, forthcoming races, new members etc.
In summer there are usually two routes to choose from, a longer and shorter route (on or off road, depending on conditions). You can always loop back if you wish to do a shorter run. There is usually a walking group for recovering runners too. We also have tea and cake afterwards.
During the winter sessions, when we run around the village, we ask that you wear a high-vis top and ideally a running light.
I am nervous about coming along for the first time on my own. Could I arrange to meet one of you so that we can go in together?
Of course! Just email us at eynsham.err@gmail.com in advance and we would be more than happy to meet you and introduce you to other members of the club.
What happens at the Tuesday training sessions?
Our summer speed sessions run every Tuesday from April to October. Runners meet at 6.30 by the roundabout at the junction of Witney Road/Chilbridge Road before jogging to the far end of Chilbridge Road by way of warm-up before the session begins.
The sessions vary from week to week, but are structured to encourage improvement in form, technique and speed. They are appropriate for runners of all paces and abilities.
During the winter, training alternates between speed sessions in Hazeldene Close, Eynsham and hill sessions by lantern light in Wytham Woods. We occasionally have hill training sessions in Botley (meet in front of the chippy at the Elms Parade shops). Please wear high-vis and bring a head torch.
Please note that there are no facilities for the Tuesday sessions.
Can I still become a member even if I don’t live in Eynsham?
You can! We have members who live in Aston, Botley, Cassington, Charlbury, Cumnor, Freeland and Witney and we actively encourage lift sharing to club events and local races.
Can my children join?
We welcome families and junior members as part of the family membership. However, please note that we don’t currently have a youth structure within our club. This means that parents need to run with their children at club nights. Children are very welcome to run in the junior sections of the winter cross country series, but have to travel with and be accompanied by their parents.
Do Eynsham Roadrunners take part in races?
We do indeed. You’ll find us dotted everywhere in a race from the front to the back and anywhere in between.
The club competes in the Oxfordshire Cross Country series, the County Championship events and the Grand Prix events. See Races and Competitions to find out more. As a competing member of Eynsham Roadrunners you will receive a discount on race entrance fees.
We also have our own Club Championship which consists of 14 local races throughout the year, usually ranging from 2 miles to 15 miles. Club members compete with each other for points and there are prizes for category and overall winners.
The emphasis is very much on taking part and it really doesn’t matter how fast or slow you go – everyone is welcome and it’s a great way of getting to know your clubmates. Everyone who completes 5 races or more will receive a certificate and a £10 ERR kit voucher at the AGM awards.
We also have the hotly contested Witney versus Eynsham Challenge every summer.
What else do you do?
See Activities for more information about our cycling and social events, as well as our weekly online Pilates for Runners classes.
Can I run the Eynsham 10k?
All new members have the opportunity to enter the Eynsham 10k in their first year with the club. After this, members are asked to help out with the race, which is always on the last Sunday in November.
How much does it cost to join?
Membership fees are agreed on at the AGM in January every year – see How to Pay Your Membership for more information, including how to pay. For those who want to compete, membership fees include England Athletics affiliation, which gives you discounted entry to all races in England. New members pay a one-off joining fee in addition to the membership fee, which entitles you to a free Eynsham Roadrunners vest or T-shirt. All ERR members get 10% off at Fit 2 Run and Up and Running.
Sounds great! When can I start?
The sooner the better. Please email us at eynsham.err@gmail.com so that we know to look out for you on the Wednesday club night and can welcome you to our club. Most runners try us out for a few weeks before we ask you to commit to joining (see How to Pay Your Membership to find out how).
Don’t forget to request to join ERR on Strava and head to the ERR Facebook page to find out what’s going on.
We look forward to welcoming you to our club!
“One day or day one? You decide.”
