Plymouth’s Half Marathon Club of the Year 2016
Tamar Trotters
The Tamar Trotters was started in 1996 by a group of friends wanting to set up a club that was as much about the social side of running as it was about the races and competitions. Their vision has spawned one of the largest and most successful clubs in the South West of England, which is this year celebrating the end of its second decade.
As a club, we now have around 325 members from Saltash, Plymouth and the surrounding areas. Meeting twice a week at Saltash Rugby Club, we cater for all ages and abilities, retaining a particular emphasis on enjoyment as well as the achievement of physical goals.
Dozens of Tamar Trotters regularly compete in races across the South West and beyond, earning numerous individual and team prizes, while our athletes have taken part in regional and national competitions, the European Half Marathon Championships and even the World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
We also organise two of our own races annually – the Saltash Half Marathon each May and the Magnificent Seven in July, both of which are completed by hundreds of adults and young people from across Devon, Cornwall and beyond.
The club also has a thriving juniors section, with around 60 young members meeting every week during term times and taking part in regional competitions, and has won several awards, including Clubmark status in 2014, and the Community Sports Club of the Year at the 2010 Plymouth Sports Personality of the Year Awards.
Weekly sessions
Tuesday – 7-8pm, Saltash Rugby Club. Groups are split into paces from 6min milers to 11min milers and even a walking group, with the training emphasis on speed, interval and hill training to build up runners’ speed and strength. Each group is led by a trained leader and up to 100 runners regularly take part in this session.
Thursday – 7-8pm, Saltash Rugby Club. Again, the groups are split by pace, but the run itself is more evenly paced. In the winter, we run around the roads of Saltash and Plymouth, but in summer we take to the fields and lanes of South East Cornwall. Occasionally, there are 90min runs for those training for specific events.
Friday – 6.15pm, Saltash Rugby Club. Catch-up run and novices session for those new to running and/or wanting a shorter run. Dozens of beginners have started out in this group and progressed to the main group runs, and onto regular races.
Sunday – times and start venues vary. There are a range of runs of various speeds and distances, and specific sessions are advertised at the club and via social media.
Wednesday – juniors session, from 5.30pm, Saltash.net Community College. Training for ages 7 upwards, split into two sessions by age. There is a focus on track and field skills, with qualified coaches providing training in running, throwing and jumping events in preparation for Sportshall competitions.