Raccoon Runner

Keen, not talented runner getting bitten by the ultra bug. I love running but am all about the banter – hence the raccoon costume! I completed my first 100-Miler in November 18 and am always looking for a new challenge.

Tamie Slade

I started running in July 2016 having been inspired by meeting the running great, Sally Gunnell, and wanting to tackle a half marathon before turning 40. I completed Cardiff half marathon in October 2016 taking me 2hrs 31 mins and I haven’t looked back.

Since then I’ve become a member of Weston Athletics Club, and RunMummyRun. I am now completing a half marathon a month this year to raise money for charity, as I chase after that 2 hour time.

April 2017 sees me adventuring into trail running, learning how to fuel correctly (nutrition) and introducing double runs into my training.

I am no stranger to running having grown up with an athletics coach as a dad, but its only now in my older years I value the freedom, the fight, and the passion running gives me.

Stacey Marston

I’m an enthusiastic runner, although a very average one! I’ve been running for about 9 years and in the last few years I have been running with a club, Bournville Harriers in Birmingham, where I also joined the committee first as Social Secretary and I am now the Chairperson.

I love being part of a running club; I’ve made so many friends and taken part in some amazing team races, like the Cross Country and Road Relays, and team trips like the 24-hour Thunder Run; the Ljubljana Marathon and Half-Marathon in Slovenia and a forthcoming visit to Ireland. As Chairperson I also get to be involved in organising our club events and races, as well as taking an active role in promoting the club in the wider community.

I’m a very keen parkrunner, having run over 150 parkruns at a number of different events; I also love volunteering at my local Cannon Hill parkrun and junior parkrun.

I have recently started a book club for runners; The Runner’s Bookshelf, on Facebook, since like many runners I spend my free time when I’m not pounding the pavements, reading biographies of runners, training guides and other books on the subject!

I’m passionate about the benefits of running for health, particularly mental health, and for the social benefits that running in a group can bring. If I can encourage or persuade someone to lace up their trainers I jump at the chance! I have successfully converted both my parents and my husband into runners (although they’re not as obsessed as I am!)

I think the sense of achievement of completing a major distance challenge or getting a new PB is amazing, but I also enjoy running for its own sake and nothing beats a long Sunday run along our local canal towpaths chatting away the miles in a group. I’ve gained so much from running personally that promoting it comes naturally to me. Being part of the growing Birmingham running scene is brilliant and having the National Running Show in my home city is so exciting; I can’t wait!

Amy Gomer

Hello fellow runners/aspiring runners! My name is Amy and I have been a “runner” now for around 5 years after completing my first half marathon for charity in 2012 in 2:10! Having completed the race the words “never again” left my mouth… to then find me 24 hours searching for my next race!! Yes, I have the “running bug”!

Since then I found a love for running, health and fitness, and have now completed 16 Half Marathons and 2 full marathons where I have now qualified for a good for age place in VLM 2018.

Running is now a huge part of my life, whether it’s 7am before work, a weekend or if I’m on holiday; I find joy in running and exploring. I enjoy sharing this passion with my friends, family and helping people start their running journey.

I love running because it’s simple. You can put on your shoes and go. Wherever you are. Whatever the time.

While running is a simple act, it also introduces so many complex things into life. It introduces a routine; purpose and structure–everything from meal times to bed time. If you’ve got a long run to do at 6am, 9pm bedtimes are a good idea!

Another OBVIOUS for most, is that it burns calories. If you love to eat (or love cake like me!!), running is the best!

Those are all internal reasons;

However, the external reasons are the most sentimental to me… Running connects us to nature and to the community. You’ll be amazed by the truly wonderful people running can bring into your life, and you can find yourself on runs, in the middle of nowhere, just you and the world. This amazing world we live in, sometimes it’s amazing just to breathe deeply and truly admire nature.

Finally, the most enduring connection of all. Running connects our minds with places you may have never been before. Pushing yourself to run 26.2 miles, when by mile 18 your body is screaming stop, but you have to just keep going. Training your brain and realising what you’re truly capable is amazing. I remember training for my first marathon and completing a 20 mile run (the furthest run I had done at the time) – I felt on cloud 9 and on top of the world, I will never forget someone saying “alright, you haven’t won the olympics” – it hurt me a lot, I was so proud and no one would take that away!

Believing in yourself and what your body can do is amazing, and has taught me a new way of living and to overcome daily stresses.

I cannot wait for this wonderful expo to meet like minded individuals and celebrate running!

Pete Clark

Asthmatic since childhood, a heavy drinker & smoker since his early teens, Pete began running as a way of losing weight, getting fitter, and combatting his mental health problems.

Starting out as somebody who couldn’t run a mile without stopping to get his breath back, Pete shed pounds whilst increasing his stamina, & ran the 2007 London Marathon in just under 5 hours, vowing to never run another marathon again.

However, as he grew stronger & fitter, Pete joined a local running club, gave up smoking, cut down on his alcohol consumption, and became addicted to the ‘runners high’. After following an online training programme, he crossed the finish line of the inaugural Brighton Marathon in under the 3:30 barrier – over 90 minutes faster than his previous marathon finishing time.

Vowing to break sub-3 hours for a marathon, Pete ran in many races, over all distances from 1 mile to 26.2, both in the UK & in his beloved Italy, improving his personal best times along the way, before finally, 6 years after his debut over the ‘classic distance’, he returned to London & achieved his dream, crossing the line in 2:54.

For the past decade Pete has been very actively involved with the local running scene in both the West Country & Midlands, being both Captain & Chairman of one club, and in the last few years has turned his attention to taking part in several Masters/Veterans events.

Now a shadow of his former self and a veteran of over 28 Marathons, including a marathon a month in 2015, Pete races across all distances, is a staunch advocate of the importance of exercise, especially parkrun, for all generations, and still occasionally finds time to coach/mentor others who wish to run, whatever the distance.

All in all, not bad for somebody who watched the television coverage of the very first London marathon and thought, “I wouldn’t mind having a go at doing that…”

Dr Doug Richards

Inspired by watching the very first London marathon, I discovered running relatively late in life as I approached my mid-30s. Initially it was just a means of getting fitter but I was soon hooked and ran my first marathon within a year of my first one mile run.

After several city marathons, and an 80-mile ultra along the South Downs, a holiday run in the USA triggered a desire for combining running and travel and this has led me to all corners of the planet. To celebrate my 50^th birthday, I completed the Marathon des Sables, the self-sufficient 140 plus mile run in the Sahara desert over 6 days.

Since then I have run multi-stage events in various locations around China and Sri Lanka, as well as trail races in Siberia, Myanmar and Jordan. I have run in a game reserve in South Africa, where nothing separated the athletes from the wildlife, and I have run on the one mile thick polar ice-cap in Greenland. During the course of the next year, I plan to run in the Australian Outback and then, to celebrate the year of my 70^th birthday, I will run in Antarctica in March 2018, thus completing runs of at least a half marathon on each continent, as well as both ice-caps.

It hasn’t always been a straightforward journey and at various points in my life I have suffered severe bouts of anxiety and depression. I cannot overstate how much my running has helped me to deal with these episodes and I am privileged to now be both a Run Leader and an England Athletics Mental Health Ambassador to help others discover the benefits that running can bring to both physical and mental wellbeing.

When I retired just over 5 years ago, I was encouraged to write about my running experiences and the way it had helped me overcome personal health difficulties. Feedback from people who had read passages  of my story led to what had initially started out as a personal record for my family, soon becoming a best-selling book ‘Running Hot & Cold’ that, I am proud to say, won the silver award at the 2016 Running Awards in London. At the request of my publisher, a second book is now in preparation as I look forward to further adventures ahead.

Andrea Wolstenholme

Until early 2015 I was one of those people who genuinely thought they couldn’t run, not even for a bus!

A good friend persuaded me to join a ladies beginners running group where I discovered that actually I could! Not only that but I love it which is an even bigger surprise. I now run 4 to 5 times a week either in a group or on my own. Running off-road is my absolute favourite.

This year I am aiming to run 1000 miles as well as completing a range of distance events up to half marathon. I am part of a great group of runners as well as on the core team for our local parkrun and coach U11s at our club. Having been vegan for over 20 years I am also part of Vegan Runners UK. I love to share my passion of running and support new runners to achieve their goals and believe in themselves. Running has definitely changed my life.

Richard Bazeley

Richard has been running 8 years and completed multiple marathons and half marathon races.

Having taken on some of the worlds hardest races like China’s Great Wall Marathon he knows what it takes to train and prepare for any race and how to reach that finish line. His highlights include that he carried the London 2012 Olympic Torch, broke a Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon dressed as an animal and was part of a team of 5 men who have taken the Cotswold 24 Hour Relay title twice consecutively.

Richard gives back to his running community by volunteering for parkrun, and is often seen at races wearing a pacing flag helping others attain a new PB. His YouTube channel showcases many of the races he has done with in race videos.

Philip Jefferies

I previously ran a lot in my younger days, when I was in my mid twenties around 1987 I ran in a number of Half Marathons, including Swindon, Bracknell and Reading. However due to work I drifted away from running and only really found it again in 2013.

Rapidly approaching my 50th Birthday, I realised how unfit and out of shape I had become from my non active lifestyle. In may 2013 I turned up at my local parkrun and huffed and puffed my way around the 5km’s in 38 minutes. My Asthma meant I had to stop and take some puffs of my Inhaler on a number of occasions. That convinced me that my 16.5 stone body needed to get back into some sort of state.

Now almost 3 stone lighter and now heading for my 52nd Birthday, my parkrun PB is 23 minutes, I have ran 3 Marathons, countless Half marathons and often get asked to be an official race pacer at events around the country.

Running has not only helped me to lose weight, but it has improved my health over a wider spectrum, my Asthma is now under control, and I am a fundraiser and social media contributor for the charity Asthma UK. I am also on their grant review panel to assess funding requests from researchers and scientists.

I now try to encourage others with the same condition as myself to get active, and improve their health, one of the most enjoyable aspects of my running these days is when I am acting as a Pacer to help runners achieve their goals and ambitions and hit new PB targets, a big boost for me.

I am running in the 2018 London Marathon once more for Asthma UK.

Paul Addicott

A family man who loves to run, and share the experience. Pacing has revived my love of running, and would sooner pace others to reach their goals, then race for my own. Pacing this year includes London and Berlin marathons, amongst a list of 18 events. Personal challenges include race to the stones 100k, and Kalmar Ironman. This is only the beginning… enjoy running, embrace it, and get out there.

Paul Willis

I love a challenge and am always pushing myself to achieve new things. From getting serious about running 5 years ago, I’ve built up from 10k’s and half marathons to completing 2 Iron distance triathlons, multiple marathons and a couple of Ultra marathons.

In 2018, I’m attempting to complete the Cape Wrath Ultra, an 8 day, 400 kilometre race through the Scottish Highlands as well as completing at least one marathon per calendar month so its certainly shaping up to be a year of record mileage.

I love chatting, reading and sharing tips and ideas with the running community, whether that’s on social media, at my local park-run or at events such as the National Running Show.

Chris Toddington

Ultra-runner 100k RTTS non stop next up . MDS 2019/2021 . Been running for as long as I can remember, only the past couple of years I’ve gotten into serious distance running . Have some serious goals such as Marathon Des Sables , Bigfoot 100 , keys100 and cape wrath ultra to name a few .

Simon Caddy

I’ve been a fully qualified fitness professional since 1999. I ran at times for fun with friends, but when I got injured in 2013 and was told I wouldn’t run again I proved the doctors wrong and have since completed several marathons and even a couple of ultramarathons! I now lead a running club in Cardiff for Run Wales and help others develop their love of running too!

Lee Davitt

Been a keen runner for 10, specialising in endurance events . I Started Dvt runclub and coaching 2 years ago, now we have a registered affiliated club with the Welsh athletics under clwb rhedeg dvt running club. Coaching is my passion, helping others achieve their goals puts a huge smile on my face. I am a qualified running coach, I also do gait and bio-mechanical analysis and I am completing my sports therapy massage training.

Stu Gee

I am a level 3 personal trainer, fitness instructor and owner at EssGee Fitness. I compete in OCR and competing in world championships 2018, also road race to marathon distance and triathlon all distances. I also am a member of Team Mud Monsters and work on course set up and preparation for this award-winning race.

Chris Ford

Hey guys what’s up I am Chris Ford aka Fordy! After getting proper out of shape after the birth of my second little princess over 3 years ago I decided to take action and dusted off my running shoes and hit the pavement once more!

I was never a very good long distance runner but for me having a young family and a super busy life Running was the only thing I could do to shed the pounds and help me deal with the day to day stresses of life!

I immediately signed up for a 10k and once I smashed that I just kept on going.

I love to encourage everyone to get out there and run if they can as it is so awesome! I started the Fordy Runs YouTube Channel at the end of 2017 mainly to track my London Marathon training but it’s ended up growing from there.

I have since started the Fordy Runs Facebook Group which is a small but growing running community which I set up for runners to find other runners who in the past went to events/races on their own to hopefully meet up or at least know someone at that event and also support each other with our training for any event we are doing. Alot of us in the group have since met up at various races and at the 2018 Great North Run 30 of us will be meeting up which is just amazing….last year I ran on my own!

I am just an Everyday Runner like all the guys and girls out there just hitting the pavement to stay fit and have fun doing it!

Allie Bailey

I have run over 60 races, from half marathons to 100 mile ultras, and my race sheet for 2018 is looking pretty interesting. In 2017 I gained my first podium place at The Ox 50 where I came first woman, repeating this at the Cotswold Ultra 44 mile race.

In October 2017 I finished my first 100 mile race in under 24 hours. I am passionate about empowering women in sport and especially about endurance racing. In January 2018 I became the first woman to cross the largest body of freshwater in the world on foot, taking part in a 100 mile multi-stage event on Lake Khovsgol in Mongolia.

I have also trained people to run marathon and ultra distance. Having suffered from mental health problems for a lot of my life, I am a passionate advocate of running as therapy and will be supporting Mind Hackney as my charity of choice in 2018.

Sharif Owadally

I love running. It took me 10 years after my first run to realise it. Now I can’t stop!

It started by being dragged around the local park, that then progressed into a Parkrun, I got convinced to run the Robin Hood half marathon and then people started suggesting I run the full. Excuses, stress fractures and any other niggles kept me from doing this but then the way I think about running changed. I stopped thinking about why I couldn’t do something, and started thinking about how I could do something! I ran in different locations, I stopped stressing about distances and times and sets and repeats and exact numbers. I started to relax about my running and enjoy it! I started to believe in myself and about what I could achieve.

I ran my first marathon last year…and followed this up with 8 more!

I ran my first ultras this year (The 50k Beer Ultra and Race to the King) and plan on a few others in the near future.

I’m big on encouraging others to run and to enjoy the benefits of running. I’ve taken several Couch to 5k groups and love to volunteer at events to help people along (I spent most of my July marshalling at the London Relay).

When I’m not running you’ll often find me following Nikki Love on bike carrying her food 🙂

Abby Davies

I started running in 2015 when over a glass of wine, me and some family members decided we were going to run a half marathon in memory of my cousin. Before I’d even ran a mile, I took the plunge and decided that if I was going to do a half I may as well do a full marathon and without a second thought, I contacted a charity and was offered a place in the 2016 London Marathon.

My first parkrun in May 2015, I turned up in a cotton t-shirt, leggings and ill-fitting trainers. Seeing everyone in Lycra I wondered what I’d let myself in for, but I persevered. There were tears, tantrums, happiness, doubt and everything in between before I reached the finish line of my first ever marathon. After 5 hours and 39 minutes all I wanted to do was sign up for my next!

The 12 months from when I initially signed up were life-changing and running had changed me for the better. Since that glass of wine, I’ve clocked up many miles that has included two marathons, nine half marathons, 12 10k events, 57 parkruns, 40-day run steaks and many more ranging from 5 miles to 20-mile races. I’ve ran in different countries including Ireland, France, Italy and Lanzarote and find it’s one of the best ways to explore and enjoy different areas. I’m not stopping there with races planned well into 2019.

Running has taken me on a journey. It has helped me manage various situations and I continue to use it to my advantage. When I’m feeling down the fresh air, how confident running makes me feel instantly makes me feel human again and gets rid of the grey mist hanging around.

Come rain or shine, I can usually be found spending my weekends on a long run or at a parkrun – local or as a tourist – and I have now taken part in 14 different locations across the UK and including one in Italy! I love running, the way it makes me feel, the community and seeing how far I can push myself.

I am by no means a fast runner, but I am a runner and my love of running continues to grow with every stride.

Karla Gregory

Ran as teenager dipped in and out, around 2000 started running more seriously completed various runs 5k to half marathon.
Between 2000/2012 I was running coach run/walk and held number of beginners group,
2012 I was doing the next stage running coach course sadly just before end I had a car accident and had to stop running.
I then got diagnosed with PTSD following something.
Without running recovery was hard
Fast forward 2016 I completed ride 100 London/Surrey
2017 I finally had ballot place for VMLM i got back into running but alone. Sadly just before my PTSD hit me again and I deferred.
I decided to do it I had to get anxiety under control so completed EMDR.
The recovery I joined a women’s running group and really loved it and joined parkrun.
Then started meeting more people and engaging in social media with runners. 2018 I turned up ready for VMLM but boom about mile 5 I had what I thought was cramp carried on in pain and very slowly until just before mile 18 where I asked for medical support thinking still it was cramp – nope I was taken to hospital and told my pelvis was broken.
After few weeks I volunteered at park run then did parkrun and walked it which I continue to do & vary between volunteering and participating as a runner/Walker.
I was featured in Runners World for it recently.
I have a Facebook running with mental health illness group and strava group.
As a mental health professional/qualified Mental health nurse I really want to advocate more about mental health and running.
I’m now 12 wks since LM and while running is hard I’m building up with walk runs, swimming, gym & various classes. I have Totnes 10k soon and hope run richmond & royal parks,.
2019 I plan and hope to be back at LM I have a Facebook page of London Marathon my nemesis you will not beat me !
I ran last year in memory of Adrian Beaumont my friend killed on M5 16:9:17 his partner my friend gave me a lot of support and encouragement but sadly also died from the accident just before LM.
Also 2019 I plan to swim the serpentine so to claim my classics medal as 2019 I will be 50.
I hope my age, weight and experience inspires others to see running is for everyone.
I have to add the photo I attach includes a lady who gave up her LM to help me and we have become great friends.
I also completed OCR

Leanne Shrive

I’m just someone who used to hate sports and in particular running, and until May 2017 I couldn’t get myself round the block without walking. I’ve completed 2 half marathons since April 2018, I’ve lost count how many 5 and 10k’s, and I’ve just achieved my 50th parkrun. I’ve made so many running friends through races, my local running club (Harborough Athletics) and parkrun – well we can be friends until the last 100m at which point its a competition!!
I started blogging to record my progress and as somewhere to shout about my achievements and also my struggles, we all have them so why do we shy away from them?
I love being part of the running community; encouraging and supporting others and sharing knowledge with those who have been running for much much longer than me, meeting people and learning about their journey’s, its totally inspiring.

Tina Page

Currently in the middle of her latest and greatest running challenge, to run 1000 Mountain summits in 365 days, TinaPage is a ‘fly in the face of convention’ everyday kind of runner and adventurer with dodgy knees, a strong predilection for flapjack and an inability to ever run past a slice of cake!. Never content with accepting her self described ‘decidedly below average’ abilities and certainly not one to be told “you can’t do that” she loves nothing more than taking on endurance challenges and long distance adventures, having cycled a 1000 mile End to End of Britain, hiked several thousands of miles along ancient pilgrimage routes through Europe and in 2017 set a record as the first woman to run the whole of Britain’s National Three Peaks Challenge raising money and awareness for Mountain Rescue and outdoor environment protection charities.
Described by BBC Radio as ‘totally bonkers’ this ’19 marathons in 19 days’ 500 mile solo and unsupported trail run, carrying all the gear needed to bivvy and bothy along the way was deemed all the more unlikely as Tina only started running just three years previous, in her forties, after being blown away with inspiration when she witnessed the incredible achievements of ultra marathoners on a summer visit to the Alps. This marked something of an epiphany for Tina, discovering that ordinary people are indeed capable of extraordinary things and she discarded her ice cream, donned her joggers and headed out her campervan door to really push some comfort zone boundaries.
In her short running life she has completed several Ultramarathons as well as a 200 mile solo run through Spain. As a self confessed ‘back of the pack’ runner Tina is passionate about sharing inspirational running and outdoors stories and spreading the message that we are all capable of so much more than we sometimes allow ourselves to believe, encouraging the belief that no one is ever too old, not brave enough, too unfit or out of shape to get out and enjoy activities in the amazing world outdoors.
To prove the point she is currently hauling her creaky knees up all the mountains of England, Wales and Ireland, with a smattering of Scottish mountains in a bid to raise a altitudinous £50,000 for Mountain Rescue and Mountain Search Dogs by running 1000 Mountains of the British Isles in 365 days. Tina really wants lots of people to join her during this challenge and encourages anyone regardless of running level to join her scaling a summit or two, or at one of her ‘Virtual Mountain’ gym challenges. Kindly sponsored by the overwhelmingly popular team from Flapjackery who were a total wow at last years National Running Show there is always plenty of flapjack to share as an extra incentive!
Tina has also been a bit of a world traveller and has enjoyed several motorised challenges including driving a scooter around India and journeying from the UK to Singapore by any overland means possible including a dugout boat up the Mekong river but nowadays she prefers to travel on her own two feet and when not earning a few beans to keep herself in running shoes she can be found living a fairly frugal and minimalist lifestyle most of the year in her ‘basecamp’ campervan exploring the UK and Europe in search of great running trails and new adventures. Oh, and hunting out the best flapjack and cakes!

Lynne Chitty

I am a Deacon and writer – i have recently published a novel where running plays a part. I started running in 2017 aged 54 to raise funds for charity but am now hooked and determined to be the best runner i can be. I am running the London Marathon next year and am preparing for the Great North Run. I love the Park Run movement, and enjoy watching athletics and hope to keep improving as a runner.  I belong to South West Veterans Running Club and 4 facebook running groups

Tim Caldwell

I’m a passionate runner, coach and writer, threading the three together in my blog (timsrunningworld.com) and online. I’m a full time teacher and father of four children and love motivating and inspiring others in keeping fit, exploring the outdoors and enjoying running. I came to both days of the National Running Show in 2018 and was both impressed and inspired by the experience.

My passion for running and writing about it all has led to my blog being nominated for the fourth time in the Best Blog (Personal) category. One of the most popular blogs I’ve written was about ‘explorunning’ – exploring whilst running. It’s one of the things I love most about running; being free to explore places whilst exercising. It’s amazing what you discover when you’re a wee bit curious about the great outdoors!

I’ve tried pretty much all forms of running and have recently PB’d at the marathon distance. In hindsight, this couldn’t have been too tricky seeing as my marathon PB had been my debut marathon and was attempted off the back of three weeks training! (Don’t try it, learn from my mistake!)  Earlier this year, I also made my ultra marathon debut. This was a goal achieved having been inspired to try it by a speaker at 2018’s National Running Show, Susie Chan.

I’m a keen club runner now and love the camaraderie of the running community both in the club, in competition and online too. I run and compete across 5k to Marathon distances and am lucky enough to be a member of Long Eaton Running Club, which caters for runners across the ability and speed range.

I’m an approachable guy and love nothing more than to chat about anything to do with running over a coffee. I hope to meet lots of you at the National Running Show 2019!

Edward Chapman

I’m an older runner and a back of the pack person who occasionally wins an age group trophy when the field is small. I love trail running and spend a lot of time on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor which means I spend a lot of time in bogs. As well as running I love volunteering at events and helping others to achieve amazing things, whether it is their first 5k or first multi-day finish. I am happiest in a desert; the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon is my spiritual home.

Despite having run loads of marathons and ultra marathons I can still remember what it was like to be new to running and what a struggle it was. Even now sometimes it is a big effort for me to get out of the door. That is why I recently started the e-publication RUN Magazine.

Running for me is not about times (although I did chase those once) but having good times, whether that is the people you meet , the friends you make, the views you see, the sun on your back or even the rain in your face. Running is an inclusive sport, where you can run in the same events as Olympic champions without feeling out of place. By joining the running community I have found somewhere I belong.

Shelby Williams

Mary Pearson

Hi, I’m Mary – an addicted runner since 2011!
Somehow between three part-time jobs, being full-time Mum to my one year old son Oscar, acting on my running club committee, blogging about running and keeping my house fairly presentable (just don’t open the door to the spare room!) I manage to run enough miles each week to stay happy!
Trail running and long distance running is where my heart lies. I ran a 50 mile ultra just 6 months after having a Csection last year and I’m currently training for my first 100 mile ultra marathon. To the other extreme I also regularly attend parkrun on a Saturday morning and love the community feel the events have. Already an official ‘parkrun tourist’, having run 20 events, I’m looking to increase that number even further this year. When my (now) home parkrun first began I made sure to run it, even though it fell just three days before I had my baby!
I would like to eventually join the 100 Marathon club. I’ve run 13 marathons so far and 11 ultras so I’m slowly heading in the right direction!

Leigh Brown

I applied for the 2017 London Marathon as a last ditch attempt to find motivation to lose weight. I was 19 stone, Unhappy and very low in confidence. What I learned about myself during the training made me realise I can achieve anything that I set my mind to. Since Running the Marathon I have run the Great North Run, The Big half in London, The London Landmarks and the London Marathon Again (the last 3 being part of a 12 race challenge I have set myself for 2018 for Charity the other 9 races include The great North Run again, The Weymouth Half Marathon, The Bournemouth Marathon and The Hertfordshire Half Marathon) Since losing 5 stone during my training I no longer feel Lost I am due to start a personal training course and in October I will start my Open University Psychology degree. I owe all this it running. It gave me the freedom to find out my purpose and ignite my passion for running and Motivation.

Jude Palmer

I started running when I was about 2! I have run on my own, run obstacle courses, run away from bears (not in Surrey), run in all sorts of crazy weather, run in a wetsuit, fallen over, walked a lot, laughed a lot and sometimes cried a bit. And still it draws me to it.

Running off road is my absolute favourite. In fact you will struggle to get me to run on road. Off road and the scenery is constantly changing, the air feels clean and walking hills is normal. The trees don’t care if we are turning bright red or not wearing the latest running gear and on top of that there is always flora and fauna to wonder at and touch. It fires up my brain, imagination and importantly my motivation. I get to follow that animal trail to see where it leads or to climb that tree if I want to.

This passion for the great outdoors has led me on all sorts of adventures including sailing around Britain, climbing in the Alps and open water swimming. I really like pushing my comfort zone and have competed in world championships, adventure races, ultra-marathons, triathlons, and my current favourite, swimrun. Seriously what can be better than running over Honister Pass in a wetsuit while using your swim hat to shield you from the mother of all hailstorms or being tethered to your mate for 10 hours!

What my heart loves, my head has caught up with and I have turned my enthusiasm and knowledge into my perfect job as an England Athletics Fell/ Trail Running Coach (CiRF) based in the adventure playground, which is The Surrey Hills.

I get my kicks from helping others discover what’s possible and working out how to get them there. My role isn’t to push and push. It is to listen, guide, challenge, motivate and provide expertise and a good dose of humour. Whether I am coaching absolute beginners or seasoned competitors, I love the moment when I meet someone and get to discover what makes them tick.

Running for me isn’t about PB’s or Strava – it’s about the freedom it gives me and the people I meet on the way. Hopefully that’s lot of you at the NRS.

Sam Crowter

Laura Goodbourn

I started running in 2016 to train for a half marathon. I totally underestimated the training and had a few injuries leading up to the race. I cried with relief as I crossed the finish line, but I did it. I didn’t run much after that, until I decided to apply for a charity place for London 2018. After finding out my Dad has a rare cancer, I needed to do something, not only to help people in the future, but also myself, to process the information. My Dad unfortunately passed away 4months after his diagnosis in September last year. I drew on this and used it to help keep me focused and on track. London was the best experience of my life and knowing my Dad was with me every step of the way, meant I was able to stay focused on my goal. I learned a lot from my first race that I was able to use and it meant I kept all injuries at bay. My plan is to complete the 6 WMM 🙂 fingers crossed for Tokyo

Melanie Sturman

Mark Atkinson

Runner, husband, father. Starting running, got carried away. Now 100+ marathons, and ultras up to 145 miles. Proof that lack of form or ability is no barrier to becoming a runner.
Leader in Running Fitness, Run Director for junior parkrun and passionate about running but not taking yourself too seriously.
Blog and twitter are main social media.
Book due to be published in November 2018:
www.amazon.co.uk/Run-Like-Duck-Mark-Atkinson/dp/1912240319

Michelle Parkes

Michelle Parkes set up Plog-olution with friend Dermot Kavanagh as a way to bring together two passions; running and protecting the environment. Michelle did her first 5k back in 2008 and since then has participated in numerous races including 3 marathons and an ultra obstacle course race over 40 miles with 400 obstacles. Michelle is a firm believer in the powerful impact that running can have on mental health and runs regular obstacle course races. Plog-olution brings together local communities to promote healthy living and cleaner local areas. All plogs are free to attend and a range of routes are on offer to cater for all fitness levels. Next year Michelle and Dermot intend to complete an ‘ultra plog’ which will involve running and picking up rubbish along the 184 mile length of the Thames.

Dermot Kavanagh

Dermot is co-founder of Plog-olution a movement that has been set up to promote healthy and happy communities. Dermot started his working life in retail which he soon grew tired of and decided to try something a bit different. He joined the Army Reservists and became a bin lorry driver for Kensington and Chelsea council. Earlier this year he gave this job up to pursue his dream of becoming a personal trainer. Dermot worked with charity Veterans for Wildlife and flew out to South Africa to help man a radar system that stops poachers who are trying to get hold of rhino horns. He created Plog-olution along with friend Michelle to combine his passion for the environment and a passion for well being. Several successful plogs later, and Dermot is excited to see how Plog-olution will grow in the future and continue to engage and inspire more communities.

Hannah Luffman

Croydon based running running with Striders of Croydon and LDN Brunch Club.
Trails obsessed and training for Abbott WMM.
Next challenges: Berlin, New York and Valencia marathons!

Jordan Foster

I’m Jordan, a 27 year old runner from Cambridgeshire, who is just working hard everyday to achieve my goals.

I still find it weird to call myself a ‘marathon runner’, but hey – I run marathons so I guess that’s what I am now! And I am not ashamed to admit that running defines me, and makes me the person that I am.

For me, running is what motivates me every single day. It keeps me sane, it keeps me healthy & it has given me so much more than a few medals. I honestly could not imagine my life without it, and I hope I never have to experience a life without it.

I have always struggled with self confidence. I constantly compared myself to others, would never believe anyone when they said how well I was doing, and would try and shy away or belittle my achievements. But recently, something in me has changed, and with the support & encouragement from the fantastic running community, I have realised that I have got something to give to the world of running, and as well as now achieving goals I would have never even dreamed of before, I now want to share it all with you guys. The ups, the downs, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. If I can inspire just ONE person to get out and go for a run, then I will be happy.

I hope you all enjoy my ramblings, and I can’t wait to share my running journey with you all.

Lee Kemp

Zeph Brand

G’day! I’m Zeph, aka nuttyrunr and originally from Australia. I started treadmill running after losing my Mum to lung and brain cancer in 2007 at the age of 28, but it wasn’t until I moved to the UK in 2010 and after spending 1.5 years on holiday and gaining a LOT of weight that I started to take this running business more seriously.

As a kid I was always a sprinter, never a long distance or endurance runner so swapping disciplines whilst also being excessively overweight posed to be quite a challenge.

My first race was the Race for Life 5K which nearly killed me and I couldn’t walk for a week – I completed it in around 50 mins. Then I signed up for the Great North Run thinking I wouldn’t get in, but I did, so the training for my first half marathon began. I deferred for a few of years either due to not being ready or an injury such as breaking my foot in 2012, but in 2016 I finally completed the GNR in an atrocious time of 2:50, but I still completed it! The following year, I finished in 2:04, smashing my time by 46 mins. I also ran for Cancer Research the first year and Macmillan the second, raising around £2000 all totalled.

2018 saw 5 half marathons under my belt as well as a number of 5K and 10K’s and hope to double that come 2019.

Thanks to running and incorporating commute running into my weekly regime, I’m proud to be over 5 stone lighter, happier and much healthier heading into my 40th trip around the sun!

I love encouraging anyone and everyone to run and helping those who find running difficult; whether it be physically or mentally – being overweight and struggling with it myself gives me the advantage of being able to see things from their perspective. I think the running community is one of the best communities to be a part of and I’m very proud to call myself a runner.

My runspirations are Dean Karnazes, Lucy Bartholomew, Susie Chan/Sophie Raworth, Tim Tollefson and Sally Mcrae (to name a few), my fave running brand is Hoka One One and my dream/goal races are Ultra Trail Australia, Midnight Sun Run, Fire & Ice, UTMB and of course to complete a marathon!

Emma Brockwell

Running has been part of my life for well over 20 years. I’ve completed a few London Marathons, many half marathons and continue to run many timed 10 and 5 ks. Im not a great runner but I love it and that’s what counts! I love how running makes you feel, its simplicity, the enjoyment of being outside in the beautiful surroundings where I live, the head space and also the community that running has bought for me. I am also a mum of 2 amazing kids and thrilled that they also seem to have the running bug, enjoying a weekly junior parkrun and being active.
I had my first child 5 years ago and following a difficult pregnancy and delivery I was unable to run for a long time post baby. This was a really hard time for me especially as running has always been an integral part of my life.
Fortunately I am a women’s health physiotherapist (a physio that treats all things related to pelvic health) and had the tools that would see me back on the road to recovery. Pelvic floor issues, back, hip pain are all common issues post baby and can either cause women embarrassment or prevent them exercising. Running places high demands on our bodies and if we return to running too quickly without strengthening a cascade of injuries can occur. The majority of pelvic floor issues can however be treated effectively by a women’s health physio. I strongly believe that women should see a women’s health physio post baby to ensure that they return to running safely and effectively.
I set up an all-women’s running club 2 years ago, in my local area, called Oxted Ladies Run club. We are a non-profit club that walk or run together every Saturday. We are a tribe of women that support each other. We run for fun and have a strong sense of community. I educate the ladies in the club about pelvic floor issues and offer to guide them back to running post baby. I am passionate running about treating postnatal women guiding them back to running and ensuring their running career is long and enjoyable.

James Dunn

I started running in 2015 when I weighed 20 stone. Running has become not only an avenue for weight loss, a way of mediating my mental health but a fantastic excuse to meet brilliant people and travel the world. Since that day I’ve run 14 marathons in 10 countries and logged a fair few miles along the way and in 2019 I will be running the Marathon des Sables!!

Danielle Page

Hello, My name is Dani and I am from Devon.

I have been running since I joined my local athletics club at the age of 11. From then on I have enjoyed running as a hobby and recently re-found my love for taking part in races. I run because it gives me an opportunity to feel alive and powerful… Running let’s me be me!

When I’m not running, I am coaching others. I coach individuals and groups with a wide range of ages, abilities and disabilities to help them achieve their own goals. I am also involved in the national ‘This Girl Can’ campaign as a Devon Girls Can Ambassador.

Running has allowed me to meet some very inspiring people and I’m proud to be a member of the community.

Lou Brewer

Hi, my name’s Lou. I started running at the age of 13, when I joined Hertford & Ware Athletics Club. I got completely hooked and trained 5 times a week for 3 years. All these years later, after raising my 3 boys and 4 stone overweight, I started trying to run again and in 2009 ran my first 10k on my 35th birthday. I tried but couldn’t seem to get my love for running back, as it was too difficult being so overweight. Fast forward to the London Marathon Expo in 2016 and a rather indulgent purchase of a Zerorunner and within weeks I’d lost weight and could run outside again. Since then I’ve completed The Great North Run 3 times and have done 5 half marathons this year. Social media is a great way to keep motivated. I follow a lot of runners, e.: Susie Chan, that post even their bad runs and that always makes me feel more confident in my next run – anyone can have a bad day! I’ve found my love for running again and use it as my ‘me time’. Life always seems better after a run.

Dougie Brewer

Hi my names Dougie and I’ve been running half marathons for just over a year now, my first being The Great North Run. I’ve now completed six in total so far, 5 of those this year.

I started running because my parents got me into running longer distances and I started to really enjoy it. I’ve improved a lot over the last year, with a PB at the Goodwood Half Marathon.

I’m inspired by many runners, such as Dean Karnazes whom I was lucky enough to meet, Eliud Kipchoge, Shaun Conway, Susie Chan and many more.

I hope to do my first full marathon in 2019 and maybe in the coming years move into doing ultra marathons as well.

Lewis Keywood

After my son being stillborn I decided to take on an epic running challenge. I lost 3 stone in weight during training for my first 10k, 8 years on I’m now an ultramarathon addict. I regularly pace marathons and half marathons, I’ve also become a personal trainer and run coach. I now thrive in helping others achieve great things and do things they never believed possible.