Meet the Coaches
Our coaches are the core of the club, who give a huge amount of their time for the success of the club. All of our Coaches are highly experienced, hold England Athletics qualifications, undertake regular safeguarding and first aid training, and are DBS checked.
Mel Carr (Athletics coach)
Event group: endurance/ middle distance
On Tuesday and Thursday nights 5:30-6:30 Mel coaches the U11s fundamental athletics run jump throw with the emphasis on fun and an introduction to events. The bulk of the training is on movement skills and drills.
From 6:30-7:30, Mel coaches junior endurance and middle distance. The group trains both at track and off site. All the training is based around the groups events mainly XC in the winter and track events from 300m to 3k in the summer. Mel works extensively with juniors who have set targets and builds individual programs which can work around the group's plan. He also helps Charlotte with strength and conditioning on a Monday evenings.
Phil Hayes (Athletics coach)
Event group: Junior middle distance
This group covers all track events from 800m upwards, cross country and road races. Runners of all abilities are welcome; the only expectations are a willingness to try hard and a desire to improve. The group is led by Phil Hayes, a UKA Level 4 coach with over 25 years coaching experience, who has coached athletes from club to age-group international level (junior and masters) and is also an accredited sport scientist.
Training times are Monday 5:45, Tuesday and Thursday at 6.
Sean Maley (Athletics coach)
Sean provides periodized training for specific races throughout the year. Mainly road and cross country in the winter and track in the summer. Track training blocks are provided for both middle and long distance track events. Individual training programs work on athlete progression and goals.
The training for all events includes a variety of training formats at various locations focusing on different interval sessions, fartlek running and repetitions, strength and conditioning and long easy runs.
The group meets at either 5.30 or 5.45 on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9.00am on Saturdays.
Charlotte Penfold (Athletics coach)
Event group: endurance/ middle distance.
Charlotte works with junior and senior endurance athletes. On Monday night she delivers a strength and conditioning session with Mel between 6-7.30pm.
She coaches on a Tuesday and Thursday evening with Mel Carr as well as a Saturday morning with junior and senior athletes.