SPRINT Issue 63 - Spring 2018

LiRF (Leadership in Running Fitness) COURSE
Kirsty Cooper
So, our fifth Couch to 5km course has just started (end of March) and is
shaping up to be as big a success as the previous courses. Once again, we
have capped the course at 75 attendees and amazingly, all places sold out
within six days of entries going live, plus we have a waiting list!
Looking back over the four courses we have run so far, we thought it would
be useful to share some information about the LiRF course that all Couch
Leaders have attended:
The LiRF (or Leadership in Running Fitness to give it its full title) is a one-day
course run by England Athletics. It is usually held on a Saturday at a random
sports centre, led by two EA coaches. The course is designed to provide Run
Leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively and safely take
out a group of runners, be in on a led training run or through (for example)
our Couch to 5km courses and also includes a DBS check (formerly CRB). The
course differs from the CiRF (Coach in Running Fitness) which is a much more
in depth, follow-on course undertaken across many weeks and including
assessments and coursework.
Our Couch to 5km group is split, with Esther having the CiRF qualification and
responsibility for our overall training schedule and specific one-to-one
questions about injuries, stretches or individual training needs; and
(currently) six LiRF sub-leaders, each of whom are responsible for leading our
own individual group of Couch runners, with the assistance of two additional
Poole Runners volunteers to act as tail runners etc.
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