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Running and Athletics clubs in Staffordshire are always on the look out for new people, regardless of what level you are at.

So if you have a passion for running you can indulge it right here in the county - you just need to know where to look.

Where to train -North Staffs

• Stoke on Trent

Stoke on Trent Athletics Club has a proud tradition of cross-country, road running and track and field. They are based at Northwood Stadium in Stoke on Trent, which sometimes stages meetings. Runners also have access to some of the best coaches and facilities in the country.

If you live in or around Newcastle, the town has it's own athletics club based at the Ashfields Track. They cater for all ages from 11 upwards, and train up to 4 nights a week.

Ashlee Nelson

• Staffordshire Moorlands

Staffordshire Moorlands athletics club has adult mens, ladies and junior sections, and trains in both Leek and Northwood Stadium. In the past members have competed in the London marathon and the Great North Run, and some have run abroad in races in France and Holland.

• Trentham

Starting out as a small joggers club in 1989, Trentham now has 150 members and is one of the largest running clubs in Staffordshire. They train twice a week on Tuesday and Thursdays and are based at the Rugby Club on New Inn Lane in Trentham.

• Stone Master Marathoners

Ben Gamble

As the name suggests the Stone based club is focused on marathons, although it does cater for all distances of on and off road running. The club was formed in 1978 as the first marathon running club in Great Britain, and meet for training at the tennis club on Wednesdays and Sundays. One of its runners, Ben Gamble is the current two time champion of the Potters Arf Marathon.

South Staffs

• Stafford Harriers

Stafford Harriers club was established in 1986 and is at the St. Leonards Social Club. It is a friendly community club with over 200 members and a balanced mix of ages both male and female.

• Cannock and Stafford

The Cannock and Stafford Athletics Club is one of the top clubs in the Midlands. The club trains at Rowley Park in Stafford on weekdays. The club encourages new members of all levels over the age of eight.

Running tips....

It is important that you only stretch when warm so jog round to get your heart rate up before training, and warm down by jogging round slowly to finish your session.

Alex Nelson

Like any sport you participate in there is always the likelihood of picking up injuries. Some can be minor like blisters or as serious as a ruptured tendon. Depending what discipline you are doing the degrees of stress on the body will vary.

But a word of advice to all those wannabe athletes, if you injure yourself do not keep training on the injury or you will make it worst. Remember to have enough recovery between runs and drink plenty of fluids so you do not dehydrate.

For buying kit, there are many sports shops around but, you will have to find a specialist if you want things like running spikes, shots, javelins, etc.

Bourne Sports in Stoke-on-Trent is possibly the best known in the North Staffs area but you could certainly ask other runners for advice as they are likely to know where the best and cheapest gear can be found!