To join any of our runs you will need to book a place in advance.
Places can be booked on the Spond app which is available for iPhones and Android phones – you can download the app here. Once you have created an account in Spond, enter the group code EGSMZ to join Dragons. For alternatives to using the app, see below.
Spond frequently asked questions
Why do I need to sign up?
Like many other running clubs, Dragons asks that you sign up before joining one of our runs/sessions. We do this so that:
- The run director/coach knows how many runners to expect (it really helps them to know in advance whether to expect 5 or 45 runners!) and so can ensure everything goes smoothly and that we have enough run leaders present (we are required to have one run leader for every ten runners)
- The run director/coach has a list of everyone running so they can make sure everyone has returned safely
- The run director/coach has the emergency contact details of everyone in case of an incident
- We are following England Athletics best practice
- We ensure we are all covered by England Athletics insurance.
Why Spond?
Unlike our previous system, Spond has an easy to use App (though you don’t have to use this – see below) which let’s you, amongst other things:
- See all the information about a run in one place including the meeting place and course (no more having to go to Facebook/WhatsApp)
- Add a run to your phone calendar
- Ask the run leader questions before the session
- Keep your emergency contact details updated.
It also makes things a lot easier for run leaders by
- Providing a tick list of signed up runners so a run leader knows who has joined a run
- Providing one place to post all information about the run
- Giving easy access to emergency contact information
- Managing track payments automatically.
I’m trying out Dragons before deciding whether to become a member? Do I still use Spond?
Yes – just follow the instructions on this page and we will add you to Spond as a trial member so you can sign up to runs. If you subsequently decide to join Dragons, we will amend your details on Spond to make you a member; if not, we will delete your record.
What if I can’t or prefer not to use an app to book a place?
If you don’t have an iPhone or Android phone, you can request that we manually add you to the system with your email (just email dragons@saledragons.org.uk). You can then access Spond through the Spond website and you will also receive an email invite to each Dragons run which you can either ignore, accept or decline.
How do I sign up for a run?
Runs are listed in the Events section of the app homepage. If you wish to attend an event, select the relevant event and select Attend. If you don’t use the app and have registered your email address with us, you will receive an email for each event as it becomes available for booking. Just click on the Attending button at the bottom of the email, then select Attend on the event page.
How do I pay for a track session?
Our track session requires a payment to cover use of the track. After the session you will receive an app alert/email with a payment link. There are two elements to the payment – a fee charged by Altrincham and District AC to use the track and a transaction fee charged by Spond to process the payment. Dragons doesn’t charge any additional fee.
What if the run is full?
Our run places are limited by the number of run leaders that are available. If a run is full you can join a waiting list. If a place becomes available you will receive an alert/email offering you this place which you can chose to accept or decline. Please don’t join a run unless you have a booked a place.
How do I cancel a place if I can no longer make it?
Runs are listed in the Events section of the app homepage. If you don’t want to attend the run having already signed up, just select the relevant event and select Decline (you can give a reason if you wish to).
Can I see who else is attending a run?
Yes – just go to the relevant event in the app, scroll to the Responses section and click on the X attending line
How do I stop notifications?
You can receive a notification every time a run is made available for booking. This can get annoying (!) and can be disabled by clicking on your image/initials on the top left of the home page, and selecting Push notifictions.
How do I update my details?
You can amend your details, such as updating your emergency contact information and adding a photo of yourself, by selecting your photo or initials in the circle in the top left of the home page, selecting Group memberships then selecting Dragons Running Club (Sale). Remember that this only updates your details in the run booking system – for any important changes you should also update your record held by England Athletics.
Spond FAQs for run leaders
How do I sign up for a run?
14 days before a run director is needed an event will become available to run leaders only to sign up to. Just open the event and select Accept.
If someone has already signed up to be a run director it will say show a blue tick with a 1 against it on the event on the events page and will be unavailable to sign up to in the event itself.
Can I sign up for a run that is more than 14 days away?
Yes. Open the event you want to book on to and select Send Now. This will open up the event for sign up and you should now be able to book on.
If I sign up as run director do I need to do anything else in Spond?
Yes. You need to make yourself the event host (so everyone knows you are run leader and any queries go to you). You also need to set the meeting point and route (you no longer need to wait until the day before the run or post to Facebook or WhatsApp).
Go to the event you have signed up for (the one titled 5K run or 10K run on the date you have signed up for) and open the event. Select the menu option in the top right of the screen (three vertical dots) and select edit then Edit only this occurrence.
Select Host and untick Dragons Running Club (Sale) and tick yourself. Go back to the event.
Select location, then search for the location of the run meeting point (such as Warrener Street car park) and select this. If the location can’t be found on the system (such as Firsway car park) type a description and select this (in this case a map won’t be shown).
Select Save.
Once you have decided on a route you can post a link in the Comments section of the event.
Should I check off runners as they arrive?
Yes – just go to the relevant event in the app and scroll down to Register Attendance and select this. All those who have said they are attending are listed in the Answered attending section. These are ticked by default but you might want to untick them (select the tick box by the section heading to untick everyone) and then tick each runner again as they arrive at the meeting point. Once you select Save each ticked runner is registered as attending.
What if someone hasn’t signed up?
It is important we have details of everyone on a run. This helps us meet the required standards of England Athletics and ensures the insurance provided by them is valid.
Everyone should be encouraged to sign up in advance. If someone hasn’t, however, they can either sign up themselves before the run starts or you can add them manually. To do this either 1) select the event, scroll down the Event page and below Responses you have the option to “Edit attendance”. Here you can add the member to the event or 2) When checking off runners as they arrive (see above), scroll down to the section with names of all members who haven’t signed up, find the name of the relevant person, and tick them as attending.
If a non-member arrives who hasn’t signed up you should take their details (Name, email, phone number, emergency contact details) and, afterwards, send this to dragons@saledragons.org.uk.
What if someone who has signed up doesn’t arrive for a run?
All those who have said they are attending are listed in the Answered attending section for that event. These are ticked by default – anyone who doesn’t arrive should be unticked before you select Save each ticked runner is registered as attending.
How do I find emergency contact details?
Select the Event. Scroll down the Event page and below Responses click on the “xx attended line” where xx is a number. The Emergency Contact name and number is given down the page to those with permission to view it (run leaders). The Mobile number at the top is the runner’s number rather than their emergency contact number.
How do I know if a non-member is planning to join a run?
Go to the relevant event and in the Responses section click on x attending (where x is a number). To the right of each person’s name there is a coloured circle. A red circle indicates the person is a non-member having a trial; purple indicates they are a member; orange means they are a run leader and yellow means they are a committee member.
How do I manage payments if I’m leading a track session?
Ensure that everyone who attends the session is checked off (see above). Open the relevant event in the App and scroll down to Request payment. All the event attendees should be listed with a tick against their name. If anyone is missing you can add them by ticking the relevant name from the Unanswered section. Select next, then click on base price then set the track fee (not including the transaction fee). Go back, and select send.
Dragons Running Club (Sale) 