We have three groups that cater for middle and long distance athletes. All coaching groups cater for both male and female athletes:
Young Athletes:
The focus of this group is young middle distance, track and cross country runners. It is predominantly U11 to U18, but with scope to cater for U20. Training takes place on Streatham Common in winter and Tooting Bec track in Spring/Summer, with trips to other venues e.g.Camber Sands. The group is open to anyone wishing to improve their performance, whether at national level or local level. There are about 30 in the group. Care and safeguarding of the young athletes is taken very seriously. There are experienced qualified coaches, and parents play a very supporting role.
Details of coaches and training sessions can be found at: Young Athletes
Elite Senior Athlete:
The focus of the group is middle and long distance track, road and cross country (sub 16:30 men and 18:30 women 5km as a guide). It is mainly senior with with scope to accommodate 'competitive' athletes of age 16 upwards. There about 45 athletes in the group, and individual schedules can be provided for athletes.
Details of coaches and training sessions is below.
Open Senior Athlete:
The focus of the group is middle and long distance, track, road and cross country (16.30 mins plus for male and 18.30 plus for female 5km as a guide to level). Ours is a large group of about 70, with a large range of ability, experience and age. We coach the newcomers to athletics, the non-elite racers and a number of veteran athletes.
Details of coaches and training sessions is below.
Target times for reps in sessions are based on PBs. The recovery varies on whichever aspect of fitness we are working on. The number of sets may be reduced on lactic tolerance work to sustain the quality of the session. We rehearse race tactics and race scenarios within some sessions so that athletes are always prepared with whatever they come up against.
The work load for all is around 5k in the winter. This remains the same for the 5k and upwards racers during the summer or indoor season but the 1500 / 800 / chasers reduce to a maximum workload of 3k. Sunday is the longish run and Thursday is the other hard key day; hills (sprint action resistance work) or Fartlek. Monday and Wednesday are recovery run days, Friday and Saturdays are rest and race days usually. Outside of key races, fartlek, easy runs or park runs are all good for Saturday.
There is always a speed element in the preparation of the 800/1500 runners; and we do a lot of sessions that involve changes of pace. The bulk of the group are 5k/10k athletes and they too have some variety of pace in the sessions. Those preparing for half marathons and marathons have all run much better over the longer distance as result of the quicker running on the track.
We provide a friendly and supportive environment where the success of all is celebrated.
Steve Knight
Geoff Jerwood, geoffjerwoodhhh@outlook.com, 07747 190603
Keith Newton, keith.newtonhhh@hotmail.co.uk, 07825 078817
With support from others including Steph Mitchell and Mark Standing
Tuesday (Tooting Bec Athletics Track), 6.50pm onwards. All year.
Thursday Tooting Common (grass or paths) and Streatham Common (hills). 6.50 onwards. All year.
Saturday 9.30am, Tooting Bec Athletics Track (summer), Streatham Common (winter)
All track events from 800m upwards, road distances up to the marathon, plus cross country. As a guide, men are typically sub 16.30min for 5km, and women sub 18.30min.
U20, Seniors and Masters, plus U18s where operating at the above level
Group GJ Tooting md training group | Facebook
Our group caters for middle and long distance athletes and has 40+ active members, with Men typically at sub 16:30 for 5K and Woman at sub 18:30 (or equivalent for another distance). Our athletes range from middle distance athletes who contest UK Championships, National Athletics League matches and British Milers Club meetings in the summer, to marathon runners targeting London Marathon (amongst others) where every year we have a strong contingent in the Championship start. Our top athletes have competed for county and internationally.
We are also very team event oriented; from September through to April we compete regularly at cross country races and road relays. Our Women have won multiple medals at these events in recent years, the highlight being team gold at the 2026 National Cross Country Championships. Our Men are rapidly improving and regularly finish in the top 5 at Southern and top 10 at National competitions. We also accommodate junior athletes transitioning to become Seniors; in 2026 Our U18M have won Southern and National team titles.
One of the highlights of winter is the Surrey Cross Country League where both our Men and Women compete in Division 1, this league offers a great blend combining competition with an inclusive social environment.
We issue a monthly plan which is available from Geoff or Keith.
Please do get in touch with Geoff or Keith if you are interested in trying our sessions. Although a competitive group, we are very social and always looking for new members.
Social Sunday long runs
Distance runners can enjoy a longer, slower training run to various destinations in South London, that normally last for about an hour and a half. These serve as a great introduction to the club, help build endurance (and knowledge of your way around the area) and there will nearly always be somebody who is able to run at the same pace as you within the group.
Several groups leave from just outside the gates to the athletics track at 9am, running different paces from fast to easy / moderate, and one easier pace group at 9am.
At 9am various groups depart for a distance of approximately 10 miles / 16 km. Pace is anything from 5:30 minutes per km up to 4:00 mins per km (from about 9 minutes per mile up to 6:30 minute mile pace). We usually visit various South London parks and commons.
At 9am a varied group leaves, whose pace is anything from 9 min miles upwards. It aims to run whatever the weather, visiting a wide range of parks in the area. In the summer these runs tend to be shorter, but still visit local parks and commons. Tea, coffee and cold drinks, cakes and biscuits are always on offer at the end.
There is a WhatsApp group Sunday Runday.
Why?
We believe articulating a clear pathway and potential options to best fit needs, especially for parents and younger athletes, will:
• Help our athletes to fulfill their potential.
• Provide clear information to athletes and parents.
• Assist in the engagement of new athletes.
• Assist in the retention and sense of belonging within the club.
• Enable our athletes to transition between groups, consistent with our ethos that the primary driver should be a programme to best fit each individual athlete.
Every coach-athlete relationship should be a two-way mutual and respectful agreement.
In addition to providing information for entry level to athletics within this framework, we also recognise that in some circumstances a coach-athlete relationship cannot be sustained because one party's expectations are not being or cannot be met-hence we also outline progression routes for existing athletes.
What can the Club provide?
We cater for athletes from U11 through to over 80s. Although our primary focus is on competitive athletics, we recognise that athletes can commit different amounts of time to their training. We seek to cater for this breadth of interest but encourage all Club members to race regularly for the Club in the highly respected club colours of red and black hoops.
Our coaches, all of whom are England Athletics qualified, through their own competitive backgrounds in athletics and/or significant coaching experience provide their time on a voluntary basis to help athletes achieve their full potential. We do not charge athletes for the coaching they receive. The club’s annual subscriptions cover running costs e.g. entries for championship races etc. However, athletes do pay for the use of Tooting Bec athletics track, which is where we are based and is owned by Wandsworth Council (there is a concession arrangement for regular users with the track’s management organisation.)
Our athletes accept and enjoy the company of others and we recognise that as athletes transition through their teenage years they will normally seek companionship with peers and groups who may be faced with similar challenges e.g. exam pressures and other external factors or perhaps seek a different environment for training. They may also be looking to older athletes for reassurance and support to help their transition in continuing their interest in athletics. We encourage contact with our senior athletes, who have been through what they are undergoing and have been through teenage transition and, yet, have stayed in the sport to go on to compete and enjoy senior athletes.
What do we expect of our athletes?
Athletics appears to be an individual sport but is highly interdependent on individuals to be part of teams, for athletes to interact and socialise within a team element, helping the development and respectful interaction with all. Through our coaches and team managers we make athletes aware of the range of competitive options and encourage our athletes to contest the major championships for the Club. We have enjoyed very significant success over the last decade at National, regional and county level across all the age groups.
Our coaches commit a significant amount of time to supporting our athletes. In return, we expect our athletes (or the parents of younger athletes) to be open and honest about their aspirations and thoughts around Club representation, training and racing.
If athletes are looking to move between training groups, it is very important (for them or their parents) to be open and clear with their existing and proposed coach. The athlete is at liberty to change coaches, as is the coach to agree to train an athlete or not. In order to avoid any misunderstanding or friction between coaching groups it is important to be open about intended changes of coaching. Our intent as a Club is wanting to ensure there are known options to consider and there is a smooth pathway for those who are looking to progress, or to adjust training for any other reason to suit the athlete.
In summary, the Club wishes to openly assist athletes, and young athletes' parents, to understand what provision the Club has which best suits their immediate needs and athletic aspirations. This applies to both newcomer and existing members.