Every Thursday I coach a group of 10/12 runners at the track in Leamington Spa. They are training to improve their speed for races from 10k up to a Marathon. It’s hard work. Most road runners wouldn’t dare set foot on a track.

I have been doing this regularly for 5 years now, and I always see the same faces. Dawn suggested that I should e-mail all 100 club members to encourage new people to come along. So I sent the following:

“This is an open invitation to any Spa Strider who wants to improve their running, especially new members who may be unaware of our Thursday Track sessions. You may have heard rumours that the track is “only for fast runners”. That’s not true. The track is however the place to go if you want to IMPROVE as a runner.

This Thursday I have introduced a special newcomers track event, to reassure all Striders that YOU CAN run on the track! I won’t say what the session is, but it does involve plenty of walking! :0)

Just come along to the Edmondscote Track this Thursday 17th September at 6.15pm for a warm-up jog. We start our flexibility exercises at 6.30pm, and the whole session will be finished by 7.30pm. You need £3.20 for track entry.

Give it a go; you may be surprised how much you enjoy it,
and IT WILL make you a better runner.”

RESULT: 25 people turned up – 15 new people. A 15% response rate from just one e-mail. That’s food for thought. Just shows that if you make the right offer to a targeted list, you will get success.

John McNally