Keen runners in Derbyshire can now receive coaching from the same team that supports world-class athletes with their sights set on next year’s Olympic Games.
All profits from the programme, set up by Derbyshire Institute of Sport and the University of Derby, will be pumped into support for talented, local athletes giving them a greater chance of winning medals at upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Former Team GB athlete Laura Wake, now lead strength and conditioning coach for the Derbyshire Institute of Sport, has devised the programme, which is called Stronger Strides. Runners of all abilities can book a one-to-one appointment for state-of-the-art movement, mobility and muscle tests. They will then receive a personalised eight-week training programme to complete in their own time to help them achieve their running and fitness goals.
Among fans of the new programme is 400m hurdler and relay runner Jess Turner, named Sportswoman of the Year at the recent Derby Telegraph sports awards. She is one of the athletes long-listed for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and recently competed at the World Athletics Championships in Doha. She has been supported since 2013 by the DIS and says without them she wouldn’t be as close as she is to her dream of representing her country at the Olympics.
Jess said: “Stronger Strides is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to run more efficiently or faster. You’ll be put through all the same sort of tests that we do, using the great facilities that we use. Laura really knows her stuff and is one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the UK right now.”
DIS is a unique organisation that puts world-class support around the best Derbyshire athletes, such as Jess, to help them achieve their dreams of becoming medal winners.
If you join the programme, your running style, strengths and weaknesses will be assessed at the Human Performance Unit at the University of Derby, which is not usually open to the public. You’ll talk to DIS coach Alex Van Enis about your goals, whether it’s a marathon for charity, a 10k, a 5k, a park run or just general fitness. He’ll then create a personalised training programme with you and coach you in how to perform the strength and conditioning exercises included. Exclusive online resources will give you extra help.
Laura, who represented Great Britain in the 400m hurdles at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, said: “Building strength is a massive part of being a more efficient runner. There are only so many miles you can keep adding on to your weekly total when you are training. Stronger Strides will benefit people who are new to running as well as those who are a little bit more experienced and want to take on a new challenge.”
Jess added: “Strength and conditioning is probably the most important part of my training. I am naturally good at running, but I’m not naturally strong. I always got injured when I was younger. This type of training is really conditioning your body to cope with the stresses of running; helping make you bulletproof to injury.”
To find out more, or to book Stronger Strides, contact Chloe Maudsley at chloemaudsley@derbyshireis.co.uk or ring 01332 593857
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