About Burgess Hill Runners

Burgess Hill Runners was formed in November 1993 by a handful of people who enjoyed running but also wanted to enjoy the social side of meeting new people. The club has grown in members but the ethos of running going hand-in-hand with social activities remained.

• club night
• running ability
• membership
• safety
• west sussex fun run league / sussex grand prix
• sussex vets track league
• special events
• social activities
• juniors

Starting from Wednesday 16th May, we will be meeting at Burgess Hill School for Girls, Keymer Road, at 7.30pm. Please meet at the senior school entrance which is the one nearest to Ferndale Road. We will be using the gym which has excellent facilities and offers more options in the winter months when the weather is bad. There is some parking at the school but there is plently of parking along Keymer Road. Afterwards, we will meet for a drink at The Top House.

Also a reminder that we now have two training squads; our newly formed “Development Squad” for those new to running, or people recovering from injury who want something more gentle than a training session. The aim is to develop technique, fitness and a love of running! Junior runners are also very welcome, minimum age is 13 years.

We had several new people on Wednesday who enjoyed the session and are looking to rescruit many more in the coming months. Tell your friends and family to come and give us a try. There is still our normal training session now known as the “Performance Squad”. This is the same standard as it always used to be, it will not be getting any harder or elitist. If you haven't been to the club recently, then why not return as you now have a choice of two sessions and we would love to see you again.

Once every couple of months we have a track night at Lewes (meet at 7:45pm for an 8pm start) and in the summer may also use a local grass track.

The session commences with announcements from club members relating to future races and events, followed by a warm-up for those unsuspecting muscles! The training session is led by one of our three club coaches, however sessions can be taken by any member.

During the winter months the training session takes place around the roads, paths and car parks of Burgess Hill. The session lasts approximately 90 minutes and is varied to include speed work, hill sessions and relays. In the summer months we take advantage of the light evenings and train on the South Downs and in the Country Parks surrounding the area.

There is also a junior section, click here for more details.

For your own health, safety and enjoyment of the sessions it would be advisable if you could run approximately two to three miles at a steady pace. Our members are runners of all abilities, from the very fast to the slow. The club prides itself in not leaving anyone behind. The sessions are divided to allow the slower runners time to catch up and the faster, stronger runners to double back so covering more distance.

Encouragement is given to everyone to improve and aim for greater distances - several people each year complete their first half-marathon and a number go on to successfully complete their first full marathon.

All new members are welcome to try our club free of charge for the first four consecutive weeks. If you then decide you would like to continue attending you will be requested to pay an Annual membership fee plus a fee for each Wednesday you attend. If you join mid-year these fees are on a pro-rata basis. The monies pay for the hire of the pavillion and subsidise social events throughout the year.

Want to join? Then download a membership form to your Acrobat Reader, fill it in and return it to one of the membership secretaries at Wednesday night training.

Safety is of paramount importance, particularly when running as a group during the dark winter evenings. All members are encouraged to provide their own reflective gear, although yellow bibs are available on training nights. We would ask that each member is alert and sensible, keeping to footpaths wherever possible. The club has an excellent safety record and we wish to keep it that way.

The club is extremely proud to have have won the West Sussex Fun Run League in both 2000 and 2001, we have also been runners up in 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2003.

All club members are strongly encouraged to participate in the races which form this league. Generally there is one race per month, varying from 5km to 10km in distance. The fun runs are an excellent way of measuring your improvements. Plenty of encouragement is always given to those who run.

Club members can also participate in the Sussex Road Racing Grand Prix races which take place throughout the year in both East and West Sussex.

The club is now entered in the Sussex Vets Track league (where we will pool our results with Haywards Heath Harriers).

There are 4 weekday evening meetings over the May to August period involving everyhting from 100m through relays, 5k and 3.5k walk, jumps, throws etc.

This is a very low key, fun way of trying new events for those who meet the age criteria (females 35 years or over on race day / males 40 years or over on race day).

More details on Sussex Races website.

Each year Burgess Hill Runners organise their own handicap race which takes place in June on the South Downs. A trophy is presented to the overall winner at our awards in December.

We also host the Batchelors Farm 4m & junior fun run and members are asked to help marshall the race.

Other special events include our annual club championships at the Brighton 10k, entering one or two teams in the South Downs Relay, entering teams in the BT Swimathon and every year we try to organise some sort of club challenge - in 1999 we took part in the relay along the Grand Union Canal from Birmingham to London.

As mentioned previously, the club holds socialising as high up in its list of priorities. There is a social committee who organise events throughout the year. Past events have included Club Beanos to Abbeville, the Isle of Wight, Center Parcs and Compiegne in 2000.

Events closer to home include curry nights, a summer barbeque, a trip to the dogs, a family picnic event at Bewl water and a Christmas dinner dance when our club awards are presented.