Running is a sport where if you are motivated enough to train, regardless of your speed or experience, you can do well and enjoy success. The London Pacers like to include the word FUN in its training mantra!

Group running offers creative stimulation, supplies your own personal cheering squad and even a little healthy competition. It’s also a great opportunity to expand your social circle. Strength, speed, endurance & stamina are all key ingredients to a successful runner and running with the London Pacers helps you develop these skills and traits.

We offer weekly pack runs, specific training programs and monthly meetings with guest speakers who will enhance your knowledge of the sport.

“A coach can offer even the most experienced athlete a new perspective, scientific knowledge, nutritional expertise, psychological aid, and (sometimes most importantly) a voice of reason to temper the most well meaning athlete’s self-destructive tendencies. Even the most experienced and educated athlete can’t be objective about his or her own training and racing.” - - - Steve Ruis

The London Pacers includes in its midst some of the best coaches in London. Each has an array of qualifications, including certification with the National Coaching Certification Program. This system ensures that the coach has a certain level of knowledge and commitment. The NCCP, which is followed by 65 sports across the country, involves a combination of studies of the theories behind training, technical programs specific to each sport and supervised coaching lasting for a year or more for each level. This ensures that the coach has a broad knowledge of all aspects of the art and science of coaching. Each level adds to the sum of knowledge. There are 5 levels recognized in Canada with Level 3 being required to take a team to World Championships and Olympics.

Sherry Watts:

I coach runners and racewalkers in groups and individually. I have worked with athletes competing at distances from 1500m to 100 miles from beginners to World Masters medalists and Canadian Masters record holders.

Individuals are coached through a combination of email, phone and in person at a cost of $30 per month for London Pacers and $35 for non-members.

The next advanced program for distance runners begins in December for those with early season races like the Boston Marathon and in early January for those with May and June events. We train together twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) but the programs are designed individually for each athlete depending on his or her goals, experience, time available and physiological characteristics. Cost $100.

I am also currently supervising a free (for Pacers) cross country running program Tuesdays and Thursday at Harris Park at 6 PM.  The Around the Bay training program (free for Pacers) will begin in December.

Also available, video technique analysis (I believe incorrect running form is a cause of many injuries), blood lactate testing and half day running clinics.

Other group training programs are available when there is sufficient interest –i.e. working on form, speed etc.

• NCCP level 4
• Also certifications with Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), U.S. Track Coaches Association, FaCT Canada (blood lactate testing) and Video Technical Specialist qualification through Own the Podium (the Canadian Olympic Committee).

You can contact me at pacertraining@yahoo.ca or 519 858-9880.

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