Athena Beginners 0-5K Running Course

Athena is a beginner running course for women that kicks off at Verulamium Park on Wednesday 4 November, with sessions running every Wednesday evening. It's an eight-week programme run by the Athena Ladies' Running Club, and it's built around one concrete goal: getting you to a 5K.

The way it works is pretty straightforward. The course alternates between led sessions and independent runs, so you're never just left to figure it out on your own. The led ones give you the structure and the company, and the independent runs let you get the miles in at your own pace. Over the eight weeks, the distance and the duration build up gradually, so you're not thrown in at the deep end. The idea is to build your stamina and your confidence bit by bit, until you're comfortable running a full 5K.

Because it's a beginner course, it's aimed at women who are starting from scratch or coming back to running after a long break. The Wednesday evening slot means it fits around a normal working week, and Verulamium Park is a familiar spot for most of us in St Albans, so it's an easy place to meet up. By the time the eight weeks are up, you'll have gone from wherever you were starting to being able to run a 5K.

It starts on Wednesday 4 November at 18:45 at Verulamium Park, St Michael's Street, St Albans, AL3 4SW, and costs £59 for the full eight-week course.