St Mary’s Hosts London Marathon Young Athletes Camp

The Endurance, Performance and Coaching Centre (EPACC) at St Mary’s University, Twickenham recently hosted the Virgin Money London Marathon Young Athletes Camp from 18th to 23rd August. The residential camp was attended by around 90 young people between the ages of 14-17, who were specially selected and invited to attend after participating in either the London Mini Marathon, the English Schools Cross-Country or the National Cross Country competitions. As one of the best endurance training facilities in the UK, St Mary’s has hosted the annual event for several years and gives young athletes the chance to take part in practical sessions such as mixed pace training and hurdle drills along with nutritional and physiological workshops. Participants also had the chance to meet international athletes, including St Mary’s alumnus Mo Farah, who took to the University’s track to record his ‘Ice Bucket Charity Challenge’. About the camp St Mary’s Coach Craig Winrow said, “Once again this year’s camp has been extremely successful with a record number of athletes attending. Every year we try to make the camp more interactive and the feedback from the athletes is that this year camp has been the best ever.” St Mary’s EPACC, which was developed in partnership with the Virgin Money London Marathon, provides support to student runners as well as international athletes including Jo Pavey, Andy Vernon, Andrew Osagie, Charlie Grice and Steph Twell.