Running
Road Running
The Torbay sea-front has a network of tarmac paths which would provide traffic-free training venues. It also has a number of parks and public openspaces which would provide tarmac surfaces routes in a completely traffic and fume free environment.
There are a number of potentially suitable 1 or 2 kilometre circuits which could be developed to provide a similar race layout to the Olympic run course.
Trail Running
The Coastal Footpath running through Torbay is probably the most scenic (and in places some of the most steep) trail running locations in the area. This is a well marked trail that can be incorporated into any training circuit or used for free-running opportunities.
The playing fields and footpath network radiating from Clennon Valley Sports Centre provides a wide range of training circuits from flat grass and trails to hilly wooded trails.
These could be incorporated within swim or gym sessions and could provide an easy running surface for swim/run or bike/run combination training sessions using the 33 metre swimming pool, and either road bike or turbo trainers.
The wide beaches of the Torbay area are ideal soft surface training locations. Goodrington Sands are over two kilometres wide, and its location, 500 metres from Clennon Valley Sports Centre makes it an idea training venue for running or for openwater swim/run combination training.
Haldon Forest Park lies an ? hour drive to the east Exeter. Haldon Forest has recently been developed as a major outdoor activity centre by the Forestry Commission and provides a variety of trails within its 2,000 hectare forest area.
The main trails are made of semi-compacted gravel while most of the single-track paths have peat or soil/rock surfaces.
There are a number of set trails radiating from the Forest Park Centre. A flat 5 kilometre trail winds through the woods along the top of the ridge offers easy running, while a more undulating 4.5 kilometre incorporating some of the western slopes of the ridge has a wider variety of slopes.
The longest set trail is some 10 kilometre in length and incorporates some of the long hills on either side of the ridge. The network of forest track scan also be used to create tailor-made circuits for fartleck sessions or any of the long hills used for hill repetition or interval work
Track Running
The Exeter Arena is currently the nearest all-weather running track to Torbay. The Arena is an eight lane venue used for regional track and field events. The track can be booked for exclusive use as a Pre-Games Training Camp.
The Arena’s Pavilion building could be used as a base for a Training Camp Team.