Membership issues
1. Q: Where is your Club based?
A: Lancaster & Morecambe AC is based midway between Lancaster and Morecambe just off the A 589. Follow the signs for Salt Ayre Sports Centre and the clubhouse is based adjacent to the athletics track behind the Centre. Postcode: LA1 5JS
2. Q: If I want to try out the Club or join, what do I do?
A: We're a very friendly club. Go to the clubhouse on a Tuesday or Thursday evening at 6.45pm. Adults should ask for Angus Murray or Steve Perry, the Road Runner organisers or a Committee member and Juniors should ask for Victoria Nicholson – and see question 6 below for the additional procedure for juniors. Having described what you want to do, you'll be introduced to the key coach for a suitable training group.
3. Q: Is it a members only Club?
A: Athletes and runners can come to the Club for up to 5 training sessions to try us out - but see question 5 below for information on availability of junior places. The cost is currently £2.20 per session These can be pre-booked and paid for HERE. After this, membership would need to be taken out. The membership year starts on 1 April, and anyone joining from 1 October onwards is charged half the relevant annual fee .
4. Q: What are the current membership fees?
A: The membership fees are fixed annually at the Club's AGM. For up to date information on the annual fees, see
5. Q: Can I join and pay my membership on line?
A: Yes you need to complete the online application forms - seniors HERE and juniors HERE
6. Q: Can anyone join?
A: We welcome anyone aged 8 years old and over to our Club whatever their ability. Juniors are organised in age appropriate groups, and senior road runners are encouraged to join groups related to their experience and speed. Senior athletes interested in track events can join multi-event, middle distance, sprint, jump or throws and cross country groups. PLEASE NOTE THAT juniors need to complete the junior registration form HERE
list.
7. Q: Do you have any provision for disabled athletes?
A: We welcome all athletes regardless of their disability. We support disabled throws and can provide seated provisions for our throwers. Our throws coach has experience of coaching both able bodied and disabled athletes. We also currently have disabled athletes in both our sprint group and our Junior Section
8. Q: Can I join midway through the membership year?
A: The subscription rates are decided at the Club AGM in February with the membership year starting on 1st April. For those (only) joining from 1 October onwards are charged half the relevant annual fee.
9. Q: Are there any age limits for Club members?
A: We welcome anyone aged 8 years old and over to our Club- subject to places being available for juniors.
10. Q: Is there a family membership?
A: Yes, there is a special rate for a family groups of 3 or more members.
11. Q: Can I pay the membership fees by instalments?
A: Yes please see information on this page HERE
12. Q: Does membership give me England Athletics affiliation?
A: Yes, the Club is affiliated to England Athletics and all members qualify for all the privileges of membership, see this website: http://www.englandathletics.org/ and this includes reduced entry fees for most road and other races.
Training issues
13. Q: When are your training sessions?
A: Our main training sessions are held from our Clubhouse at 7.00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Coaches, including the leader of the road runners, may organise additional more informal sessions at other times.
14. Q: What sorts of sessions do you offer?
A: Full information on the training sessions delivered for juniors in all age groups is given on
this website. For road runners, there is information on the training sessions HERE
15. Q: I am an adult beginner – do you offer any road running sessions which cater for me?
A: The training sessions are organised to suit the needs of runners of all speeds and abilities. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings there are usually at least 3 groups, divided according to speed, so beginners can be catered for in the slower group. Sessions can cover up to 6 miles, but there is usually some time for recovery during the session.
16. Q: Can I come to the Club to try it out before I become a member?
A: This is fine. Anyone can come to up to 5 training sessions paying £2.20 per session as a guest ( book and pay for your sessions HERE before deciding if they wish to become a full member (junior or senior, as appropriate).
17. Q: What type of kit do I need?
A: We recommend a suitable pair of trainers and lightweight clothes. To ensure that you have a suitable pair of trainers, it can be worth investing in a treadmill test and seeking professional advice. In addition to suitable trainers, we recommend that juniors bring a drink of water and a waterproof top. In colder weather we recommend wearing layers, so that outer layers (such as rain jackets) can be removed. Personal preference and temperature will dictate whether shorts, ¾ length or full length lycra tights are appropriate, and the more technical wickaway t-shirts or vests (depending on the weather) may be worth investing in. For females, a good quality sports bra is also recommended. In the autumn and winter when it may be dark, we advise all non-track runners to wear high visibility items. The Club has a stock of high vis gilets which it lends out on training nights. The Club also has a range of kits including vests with the LMAC logo in a range of sizes for both juniors and adults which can be purchased online HERE . These are required if an athlete represents the Club.
18. Q: Do I have to wear a Club vest?
A: All competing athletes, including juniors, need to wear a Club vest when racing in events and competitions, but otherwise you are not expected to wear one. At events you'll also get extra cheers from supporters if they recognize your Club
19. Q: Do you offer track athletics training?
A: On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, we offer track training for both juniors and adults. The exact sessions on offer depend on the day and the age of the athlete. In the winter, some sessions are also held in the indoor gym at Lancaster & Morecambe College. The exact arrangements are confirmed by the relevant coach.
20. Q: Can I take part in competitions and events, representing the Club?
A: The Club takes part in many leagues and competitions. The Mid Lancs League is one in which any athlete can take part. Club Members travel around the north-west to many quality venues. The league is really designed to introduce youngsters to competition, but with no real pressure on them. This is their website: http://www.midlancs.org.uk/ There are also the county championships for Track and Field athletics and Cross Country which can be entered by Club runners who have either lived in Lancashire for the previous 9 months or were born in Lancashire. We also compete in the Mid Lancs XC (cross country) - including U11s and in County championship cross country events. The Northern League is for athletes who are in the under 17 age group and above. This is a competitive league where athletes have the opportunity to compete in a team event on a league basis against teams in the North of England. The NoEAA starts in May and consists of 4 matches with the top 2 teams being promoted and the bottom 2 relegated from the division. The league now operates with both men and women competing at the same match with an accumulative score deciding the overall standings. This is their website: http://www.noeaa-athletics.org.uk/
There is also a senior club championship details are HERE
The Youth Development League is specifically for male and female athletes in the under 20 under 17, under 15 and under 13 age groups. The League is very similar to the Senior League with the top teams being promoted and the bottom teams relegated. This is the website: http://www.ukydl.org.uk
21. Do you offer field events, like high jump and pole vault?
A: we offer training in a range of field events, both throwing and jumping, for juniors and seniors. For information on the sessions available for jumps and throws see this website
22. Q: What do you offer for juniors?
A: when we have spaces in the relevant age groups, we are pleased to welcome juniors aged 8 upwards to the Club. Depending on the number of DBS checked and qualified coaches available, there may be waiting lists in some age categories and so you need to complete an expression of interest form before coming down to the Club with a junior.
23. Q: If I can't come to the training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, can I use the track by myself at another time?
A: the track is owned and managed by Lancaster City Council through Salt Ayre Sports Centre. The Club hires the track for the two evening sessions, but not beyond this. If you wanted to use the track outside these times, you would need to pay a personal hire charge through Salt Ayre.
24. Q: Do you organise cross country training?
A: On the usual training nights – Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30pm – there is a group of juniors and adults which trains specifically for cross country events.
5. Q: Do you organise cross country teams?
A: The Club is actively involved in cross country training and races, and regularly sends teams of athletes to weekend (usually Saturday) cross country races and events throughout the north of England. There are teams in the Mid Lancs league, County Championships, Northerns and Nationals. In addition a number of our athletes will be selected for County teams (typically Lancashire and Cumbria) each year.
26. Q: Do you have any fell running training sessions?
A: Many of the adults and some juniors in the Club are also active fell runners. A number of our athletes compete in the FRA series races and the Club has produced a number of international fell runners.
27.Q: What about safety?
A: LMAC have adopted the England Athletics Child Protection Policy, and use Qualified Coaches who are subject to UK Athletics Code of Conduct. General sessions are supervised by experienced coaches registered and CRB checked. The Club has an anti - bullying policy and a welfare/child protection officer.
Other issues
28. Q: Does the Club host its own races or competitions.
A: The Club usually hosts an annual Junior Road Championship, and also helps to host one cross country event (which may be held elsewhere, such as Ryelands Park). There Is a special, very popular candlelit run before Christmas for both juniors and adults. We also try and host a Mid Lancs track and field fixture most seasons. For road runners there are two 10k Club races starting at the Clubhouse (3 Bridges in April and the mid week evening Lancaster 10k in July). In addition the Club organises a race for families as well as regular runners, the 4k Festive Fun Run just after Christmas and our 5K series "The Power of 5K. Details of all our races are HERE . There is a range of other local road races organised by Billy Gardner as a Lancaster Race Series. See this website for more information: http://www.lancaster-race-series.co.uk/
29. Q: Does Club membership qualify me for discounts at local shops and 'affiliated Club' status
at races?
A: Yes – Lancaster & Morecambe is accredited by England Athletics and all members are affiliated and hence qualify for the lower race entry fees. If athletes and runners enter races on a regular basis, this can give a considerable saving – typically £2 to £4 per race. There are some local shops, including the Runners Centre in King Street, Lancaster, which give a discount on purchases which relate to athletics and running, typically 10%.
30. Q: Does the Club organise any social events?
A: There are many informal social gatherings organised by individual Club members. In addition, there is usually a Christmas meal for seniors with presentations , there is usually an annual social event for the juniors to reward them for their contribution. Near Christmas, there is an adult/junior candlelit race evening which is followed by an enjoyable buffet. The road running coaches currently host occasional Sunday runs organised on social media called SMILE to which anyone is welcome SMILE ). These start in Lancaster, not at the clubhouse.
31Q: Can I use the club facilities such as Club house?
A: Yes - please contact us via the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. email address. We will email you the booking form. There is a suggested donation of £50 to club funds. If you wish to hire the athletic track you must contact Salt Ayre Sports Centre on 01524 847540