But am I good enough to join Meet & Train?
To benefit from membership, ideally you should already be running 5km comfortably (fast or slow, it doesn't matter). Every six months we have our Magic Mile where you run a mile as fast and as hard as you can to help you determine the most appropriate group for you within Meet & Train. This form of torture is not obligatory! To get a taste for it, have a read of Sarah Colton's Summer 2021 Magic Mile report.
So, when and where do you meet & train? (this week's schedule)
The plan for each week of the year includes four coached sessions:
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Tuesday at 6pm in our campus or 7pm in UCD (speed work)
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Thursday at 6pm in our campus
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Saturday at 8:45am for speed work in our campus
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Sunday long runs at 8am in our campus and 9:45am in Marlay Park, College Rd carpark.
M&T is coached by Olympian Maria McCambridge and serial Irish National Marathon Champion Gary Crossan.
Work Hard!
We take part in the big races. Some M&Ters are there to win, others simply to cross the line, while the rest of us cheer them on from the sidelines! You decide if you want to race. Our favourite has to be the Dublin Marathon, and M&T has a 12 week training plan for this Marathon. Have a read of this entertaining piece by John O'Grady about his first Dublin Marathon experience.
For 2024, we have the following races on our calendar:
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Dublin Masters cross country on Sunday 7 January in St Anne's Park, Raheny
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Raheny 5 Mile on Sunday 28 January
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Tallaght 5k on Sunday 17 March
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Dunboyne 10k on Sunday 24 March
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Ibiza half marathon on Saturday 20 April in Ibiza
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Wexford half marathon and 10k on Saturday 20 April
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Terenure 5 mile on Sunday 12 May
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Bob Heffernan 5k on Tuesday 21 May in Enfield, Co. Meath
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Women's Mini Marathon on Sunday 2 June in Dublin city
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Dunshaughlin 10k on Saturday 22 June
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Race series - Fingal 10k on Sunday 14 July in Swords
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Race series - Frank Duffy 10 mile on Saturday 17 August in Phoenix Park
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Race series - Dublin half marathon on Sunday 22 September in Phoenix Park
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Dublin Marathon on Sunday 27 October
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Jingle Bells 5k in early December in Phoenix Park
We also have our M&T curated Sunday Runs upcoming in the Spring and Summer. These are just like our normal long runs, but take place at different locations outside Marlay: mountains, beaches, lakes, deserts... well, not quite deserts, but desserts after the run are a certainty :-)
Want to improve your running but are already busy balancing work & family commitments?
Meet & Train is DSD's endurance group for adults, and it just might suit you! Our coached training takes place four times a week and has a healthy mix of speed work and long distance easy running. We have a plan for every week of the year, and you participate to the degree that your personal circumstances allow or to the extent that you want to achieve targets, like completing a marathon or improving your time in your local Parkrun. Whether you are fast or slow, it doesn't matter. Oh yeah, and you get to forge great friendships! And, now you'll get access to one of the best outdoor running tracks in the country! If you have kids in the Club, you can get discounted membership with the family package.
Play Hard!
It is not all running. Social events as simple as coffee and buns after a Saturday's speed work or an evening learning about wines from the New World, or the summer barbecue in our new sports campus. Meet & Train loves to meet and socialise!
Meet & Train Committee
We have a team of dedicated volunteers who keep the show running all year round. Races, social events, helping you find your feet - there's someone for every task. If you see any of these faces about, feel free to ask any questions!
I'm interested. What next?
Just fill in the enquiry form here, and we will be in touch. Alternatively, pop up to meet us in the College Road car park of Marlay Park any Sunday at 9:45am, and run with us. It's your chance to join one of the most exciting athletics clubs in the country. We don't bite. We love new members!
Adult Meet & Train
