British weather is unpredictable and is therefore not great in terms of planning outdoor athletic training sessions. Cold weather makes performance levels drop - which in many case means athletes run slower! It also tightens the muscles and makes athletes more prone to injuries. In Portugal good weather is guaranteed, which helps an athlete enormously.

Every Easter the majority of athlete’s head for warm weather training for up to five weeks. Many have the opportunity to attend training camps on the Algarve in Portugal. The time away gives a chance for the team to bond together prior to the busy summer season and provides a superb environment within which to train and return rearing to go.

The Algarve remains the most popular destination for athletes of all disciplines with a choice of venues that offer good tracks, off track and off road running options plus specialist field event training areas supported by good weight training and gym facilities.

Browns Sport and Leisure Club is one of these pre-mentioned facilities based in the resort of Vilamoura and is only 25 minutes from Faro Airport, which is a 3-hour flight from the UK and Ireland.

At Browns the athletes can also concentrate purely on their training and remain focused without the everyday distractions, which would occur, in an athletes home environment. The support staff at Browns are invaluable, allowing athletes to avoid injury and train to the best of their ability.

In addition to the world-class facilities located on site at Browns, located only 3km away is the Estadio Municipal de Quateira. This venue is an ideal warm weather venue for sprinters, hurdlers, middle and long distance runners and long & triple jumpers. In addition the stadium has high jump and pole vault and throws facilities. Road and off road running opportunities are good with excellent trails within 1 km of the track.



The complete facilities include:

• Eight Lane tartan 400m running track.
• Tartan runway for long jump and triple jump.
• Nordic starting blocks.
• Hurdles.
• Full-size grass training pitch.
• Changing facilities.

Browns in conjunction with the local council is able to provide athletic clubs the full use of the above stadium with transfers from Browns as part of their warm weather training package. These packages accommodate a club with all the facilities and needs required.

As such in the past 4 years Browns as attracted the likes of the following:

• Red Hot Runners –Organised by Coach Alf Vickers 4 year consecutive ’03-‘06
• Durham University Athletic Club
• Hyndburn Athletic Club – Organised by Coach Don Lennon 2 years consecutive’05-06

These clubs have found the locality of the athletic stadium plus Browns’ on-site facility, created especially for professional athletes, makes their stay and training schedule the ideal location and environment for all their needs and thus reap the rewards from the benefits gained at Browns Sports and Leisure Club.