For years, the GVAC athletics club has had a thriving recreational section.

By investing in coaches, assistant coaches, and new training methods, we try to keep running at GVAC as attractive as possible. We do this by employing qualified coaches and providing varied training sessions. The coaches, in turn, are assisted by a number of assistant coaches, all of whom have also completed coaching courses.

The majority of the coaching staff holds a First Aid certificate. The coaches and assistant coaches stay up to date with new developments/techniques in running through refresher courses. These refresher courses are taught by instructors from the Dutch Athletics Federation (Atletiekunie).

Coordinators

The recreational group is supervised by the following coordinator:

You can always contact him with any questions.

Training

We offer the following training sessions:

Tuesday (training off-track)

  • 7:00 PM to approximately 8:45 PM: training off-track and, depending on the season, in (the vicinity of) Veldhoven.
  • The distances are: 0 – 4 km (starters and re-starters in 3 subgroups), 6 – 8 – 10 km, and the cycle run (11 to 15 km).
  • The cycle run starts every first Tuesday of the month with 11 km, and in subsequent weeks, 1 km is added per week.
  • Distances above 6 km are run in different pace groups.
  • Attention to safety during training is very important to us.
  • On Tuesdays, the trainers and assistant trainers of the running groups are all equipped with a first aid kit and a phone.
  • After 2 joint warm-up laps, the specific warm-up, training, and cool-down are performed per group.

Thursday (track training and recovery runs)

  • 7:00 PM to approximately 8:45 PM: training on the track in level groups and recovery runs off the track.
  • The core consists of interval training: running short distances based on time and intensity, with pauses.
  • In addition to interval training, each group focuses on running technique, strength, and stability training.
  • After 2 joint warm-up laps, the specific warm-up, training, and cool-down are performed per group.
  • From 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM: a mixed group that does only interval training on the track, in addition to the warm-up and cool-down.

For track training, the groups training are set up as follows:

  • Group 1: Starting to run or restarting after injury, illness, or pregnancy (all levels)
    Goal: To learn/be able to run (again) enjoyably and injury-free, and a responsible training structure
  • Group 2: Running at paces up to 11 km/h
    Goal: Shorter distances and occasional half marathon in > 2:10 hours
  • Group 3: Running at paces between 11 and 13 km/h
    Goal: Half marathon in 1:55 – 2:10 hours + occasional full marathon
  • Group 4: Running at paces between 12 and 14 km/h
    Goal: Half marathon in 1:40 – 1:55 hours, full marathon, and (road) races
  • Group 5: Running at paces from 14 km/h
    Goal: Half marathon < 1:30 – 1:40 hour, full marathon, and (road) races

We use a semi-annual training schedule divided into the following periods:

  • Transition and recovery period
  • Preparation period 1
  • Preparation period 2
  • Competition period

On Thursday evenings, a relaxed recreational endurance run off the track is also offered. These are specifically intended for members who wish to recover after a race or save themselves for an upcoming race. here are also regular participants for whom the track program is too intense or too demanding. The emphasis of these relaxed endurance runs is on recovery and rest, with the slowest participant setting the pace. Three distances are offered with supervision present: 5, 7, and 9 km. These 3 groups start with a joint warm-up on the track and then split up. Participants with a higher recovery pace are given the opportunity by the supervisors to run at their own recovery pace up to a certain point. The 3 groups conclude the training with a cool-down on the track.

During the preparation for the full and half marathon in the spring, and the Eindhoven Half and Full Marathon in October, training also takes place on Saturdays starting in July. Training sessions start at 9:00 AM for the half marathon for 10 weeks, and at 8:00 AM for the full marathon for 12–14 weeks.

Preparation for (Half) Marathon Spring 2026

We are back in action!
The preparation runs for the half and full marathon in the spring of 2026 are starting up again.

In preparation for various half marathons and full marathons in the period from early March to late April, GVAC athletes will once again be training under the guidance of enthusiastic trainers and supervisors.

This period includes the Marathons of Rotterdam, Enschede, Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, and Two Rivers, as well as the half marathons of Sint Anthonis, Stevensloop, CPC Den Haag, Kempenrun, and Venloop.
Of course, there are other (half) marathons to be found during this period.

The preparation for the marathon begins on Saturday, December 20th and the preparation for the half marathon begins on Saturday, December 27th.

Everyone (GVAC member) can participate in the preparation for the (half) marathon, provided the following conditions are met:

  • At the start, one must be able to easily run at least 12 kilometers for the half marathon and 21 kilometers for the full marathon in one go and be injury-free.
  • For the full marathon, the pace one must be able to maintain is at least 9.8 km per hour for all distances (from 22 to 35 kilometers).
  • For the half marathon, the pace one must be able to maintain is at least 8.6 km per hour for all distances (from 12 to 20 kilometers).

Everyone who has registered will be informed in more detail about the routes, start times, any information evening, training structure, an appropriate pace, etc.

During the preparatory runs, the supervisors will monitor performance and advise participants if necessary. The preparatory runs always take place on Saturday mornings.

Afterwards, there is an opportunity to shower, and a cup of coffee or tea can also be enjoyed in the canteen for a fee.  

If you wish to participate in these preparatory runs, you must register by email with the contact persons listed below no later than Friday, December 12.


The participation fee for non-GVAC members is € 50 (including accident insurance).

Organization and contact persons: 
Full marathon: Conny Terwal, email : marathon@gvac.nl 
Half marathon: Erik Kooman, email: halvemarathon@gvac.nl 

Routes

Tuesday Training – Summer Routes

Last update: April 12, 2024

Tuesday Training Group 1 – Summer Routes

Tuesday Training – Winter Routes

Last update: April 12th, 2024

Tuesday Training Group 1 – Winter Routes

Half Marathon Preparation – winter


Please note: the distances shown on the route maps are approximate. The route descriptions contain the actual distances determined by GVAC trainers.

Intake

Introduction

Email us to get acquainted with our running group via: Sign up for intake

You will then receive an email with information, a few questions, and a registration form.
If you return the completed and signed registration form via email, the start date will be agreed upon, and your trial month at GVAC will begin on that start date.

Based on the answers to those questions, you will be responsibly assigned to one of the interval groups on Thursdays or endurance running distances on Tuesdays.

Guidelines for training in hot weather at GVAC

It can regularly become very hot, and this weather will certainly occur more frequently in the coming years due to climate change. We consider it irresponsible to allow training sessions to continue under these conditions, as training is not safe and yields no training effect whatsoever. Therefore, we, the recreational coordinators, have drawn up guidelines for training in hot weather: when will a training session be cancelled and when will it be modified? Please note: these are guidelines, and deviations may occur due to circumstances!

When training sessions are cancelled, the aim is to inform you at least one day in advance, so that there is still room for a possible private training session in the morning when it is cooler. And skipping a training session on very hot days/periods is simply sensible. When a training session is modified, we will not issue any (additional) notice regarding this.

What cannot be emphasized enough is the importance of drinking enough fluids during training sessions, especially at (extremely) high temperatures. Therefore, we strongly advise ensuring you have enough to drink for the journey during all training sessions. If you would like more information about training in the heat, please visit https://www.sportzorg.nl/bibliotheek/warmte-en-inspanning.

The following guidelines apply to the training sessions:

Tuesday

Expected temperature at 7:00 PM above 30 °C:

  • No training
  • Always notification via (extra) newsletter

Expected temperature at 7:00 PM between 25 and 30 °C:

  • Modified training
    • No accelerations
    • Shorter distances
    • Lower speeds
  • No notification via extra newsletter

Thursday

Expected temperature at 7:00 PM above 30 °C:

  • No training
  • Always notification via newsletter

Expected temperature at 7:00 PM between 25 and 30 °C:

  • Adjusted training
    • Only gentle core and/or yoga exercises
    • Recovery run (short) at gentle speeds

Saturday

Expected temperature at 7:00 AM above 25 °C:

  • No training
  • Always notification via (half) marathon coordinator

Expected temperature at the end of the training between 25 and 30 °C:

  • Adjusted training
    • Shortened training, so that the expected temperature at the finish is a maximum of 25 °C
    • Lower speeds
    • Earlier start times
  • Notification via (half) marathon coordinator