Pre Run Activities
Check attendance on HeyLo - always check HeyLo to find out who is attending and know how to plan the activity based on the ability of participants.
Plan your route - check to see what activity or run week is, to ensure you can plan your routes in line with the timed activity.
Check attendance of run leaders - find out who can attend to support and assign to either groups I.e front, middle and back groups to support participants. Try to assign a run leader to a maximum of five participants if the group is large.
Check the weather - Check on the day of the run the weather conditions and publish the weather for the run so everyone is prepared for the run.
Communications - Use the WhatsApp group or the event on HeyLo to communicate with participants signed up for the activity.
Pre Run Activities on the day
Turn up 15 minutes early at the meeting venue to greet participants and take a register of who has turned up for safety during the event.
Brief run leaders to ensure everyone has the correct Week set on the couch app and know the route that will be used for the activity. Highlight any specialist instructions such as runners with health conditions that need monitoring during the event.
Run Coordinators Brief to the group
Brief the group on the week and timings of the activity along with the route being taken.
Injuries - Ask the group if anyone has injury you need to be aware of.
Cover safety on the run such as road crossings on the route, actions to be taken with an injury or fall on the run. Actions to be taken when running on pavements especially with oncoming traffic, bikes, scooters or pedestrians.
Pre Run Warm up or Stretch - spend at least 5 minutes with either an aerobic warm up or stretching to ensure participants are prepared for the session.
Assign participants to groups and pair them up with run buddies for the session.
Activities during the Run
Get the participants to the start line of the run as a group. Ensure everyone is in their groups or with their buddies before starting the event.
Starting the run should be coordinated by all run leaders starting the activity app at the same time, with a countdown from the run coordinator.
The run will always start and finish with a five minute walk before and after the run as part of the warm up and cool-down.
Awareness on the run, it is imperative that all run leaders remain alert during the road looking ahead on the route for hazards or anything that poses a risk to the participants. Remember the run is for the participants and not for the run leaders so leaders must provide support to anyone who is struggling, by coaching and being sympathetic. During hot weather look out for anyone who is experiencing dehydration and take immediate action to prevent any serious harm to runners. During hot periods run the shade and walk the sun, but still encourage plenty of hydration. Praise participants for effort and care or encourage those who are finding the activity hard.
Activities Post Run
Ensure at the finish of the activities, that the whole group walks back to greet the rear group, to ensure no one comes in last. A run leader or the coordinator should be the last one in ensuring no one has been left on the circuit.
Cool-down stretch - the whole group should take part in the cool down stretching ensuring upper and lower legs are well stretched to prevent injury or cramps.
End of run debrief - always finish with the positives and feedback from the participants, offering advice where advice is needed. To finish the activity off provide a look forward to the next session and keep promoting run techniques.
Take a photo of the group for uploading to the social media platforms.
