My running journey started when a friend suggested we enter a 10k in London.  Fast forward a few years and another friend suggested joining the Harriers as it would be a great place to meet new people, get training, have the use of a track and race.  And they were right and my running has massively improved.

3 years in and I now wear a number of hats for the Harriers. 

Head Coach having done the LiRF and CiRF courses. I lead the coaching team and work with the running and swim coaches to continuously develop the training offered to our members. 

Attended the Mental Health First Aid course through the club and in my role as one of the Welfare Officers, I help to nurture the right supportive and inclusive environment for all members and to be someone that people can turn to with any welfare or support issues.

Most recently as Vice Chair helping to support our chair Catey and the committee in running and improving our club

I started running parkruns just a few weeks before lockdown in 2020 and spent the majority of the next year building up my running, and using it to reduce stress, until eventually plucking  up the courage to join the Harriers in May 2021. That was one of  the best decisions I have ever made.

Since joining the Harriers my running has gone from strength to strength as I have run two marathons and am hoping to achieve a Boston Qualifying time this year if my little legs run fast enough!

I tend to be a regular at track, club run and parkrun and just love a long run on Sunday if I am not running a race somewhere. I like nothing better than running a race in my Harriers top.

I have always loved sport but strangely never got into running when I was younger. At school the cross country season meant running to which friends house was on the route that week, waiting 30 minutes and then running back to school!

I discovered running in my 40’s when my children were old enough to leave at home for a while so I could run around the block and then it just went from there!

I spent years running mostly on my own and gradually worked my way through the distances to finally completing marathons.

It was during the Maidstone Half Marathon on the ghastly route out from Cornwallis School that I discovered how friendly and encouraging the Harriers were while competing in their event. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a part of that!  I joined just a few months before the first lockdown and have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the club.  I decided to give something back to the club by joining the committee, having realised that my running was never going to win the club any trophies, but that’s fine, the club is all inclusive for those amazing, inspirational fast runners and those like me, that just love to run!

I have run from a young age and have moved between track and ultra marathons but I am now focusing on breaking Sub 3 for the marathon and hope to achieve that at Cologne in October 2022. Following that my aim is to one day run a Sub 2:40 at London Marathon. I joined Maidstone Harriers when I moved to Maidstone a few years ago and it is a great group of people who welcome all levels and abilities. I am fortunate to also have a running club at work in the military, so I can train with people of all levels to help me push towards my goals. This year I would also like to complete my coaching qualification so I can help more with development of runners at the Harriers.

I’ve always been involved in sport in some shape or form. During my teenage years, it was Sunday league football, but I eventually reached an age where I couldn’t be bothered to slide tackle grown men at 11 in the morning in the pouring rain. I swapped that out to become a hybrid of a gym/gaming addict until I started university. That’s where I discovered parkrun and ended up going most Saturday mornings – that’s where my passion for running started.

One day a friend recommended that I listen to a Joe Rogan podcast. The guest was David Goggins, an American Navy Seal. His story inspired me so much that I booked my first 100k (before a marathon… with absolutely no real training). It’s safe to say since that race I found a love-hate relationship for ultra running and that’s where my focus is still today.

Day to day you’ll find me behind a computer creating websites and that’s why I thought I’d try to help out with the Harriers new website (coming soon!)

I always wanted to join a running club, and in late 2017 I took the leap and joined the Harriers. Let’s just say that my running experience has been ‘undulating’ since that point. I started to improve, and then was out again by about February 2018 with back problems and sciatica, so used cycling to help keep my fitness going. An 81 mile sportive in the New Forest kept me busy in April, followed by a 400 mile cycle challenge in September. But it was running that I truly loved and missed. With the go ahead from my osteopath I gradually eased back into it with lots of smaller runs and eventually re-joined Wednesday night club run which I had missed so much!

From that point on my running hit a new high. I took part in the KFL Cross Country events and finished third lady in our team for the season with a lovely trophy at our annual Harriers Awards Evening. 2019 was without doubt an epic PB year, with my aim to run one race every month (which I achieved). I ran my first half marathon with the Harriers at Deal, taking my previous HM PB from 1:46:47 to 1:42:45 on this exceptionally hilly course in horrific weather, coming 13th female and winning the ladies team prize with Charlotte and Sharon. Then improved my time further with a 1:38:33 at Paddock Wood. My biggest achievement of 2019 though has to be completing the North Downs 30k. The Harriers told me it would be tough, I’d done a bit of practice for it, but had only managed to complete 13.8 miles in my training! Race day came. It was scorching hot, but I can honestly say I loved every minute of it; until I reached the final two miles and was stuck behind some guy blaring out really bad techno music when my legs were already dead. But I struggled past him to save my ears and completed it under 3 hours; dying on the finish line!

To complete 2019 I won a team trophy as the fastest team with Jamie, Rob and Ari in the Marden Half Marathon in November, followed by a ‘third female’ prize at the Harriers’ Turkey Run in December (my favourite award so far)! Having entered 8/10 of the Kent Grand Prix races in 2019, I finished the season as 9th female overall, with the Maidstone Harriers female team taking third place; something I am so immensely proud of. My 2019/20 KFL Cross Country season was my best yet, and managing to come in the top 20 female runners for two of the final races out of a field of 300+ was for me, a huge success.

I can honestly say that joining the Harriers was the best decision I have ever made. Not only have I made wonderful friends, but I feel that I am part of a family. With injuries/ without, we are all here to support one another, and being Ladies’ Captain is a real privilege.

I joined the club in late 2021 and have really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and spirit. You have made me welcome and my thanks for that.

Professionally, I am a Civil Engineer so I believe I am good at solving problems and like to take an evidence-based approach and apply this to coaching.

I am an experienced triathlete, completing my first around the turn of the century. I have competed up to standard distance in the UK and abroad and am proud to have represented Great Britain at Age Group level at one World Championship and two Europeans.

I gained my coaching qualification in 2010 and have mainly been coaching swimming since then. I really enjoy helping others to develop their skills and it is great to see people progressing in this challenging sport.

If I can be of assistance, with either swimming or any other aspect of triathlon, feel free to give me a shout.

I started running on a dare to complete the London Marathon 2016. Weighing in at 99kgs (15.56 stone) and having no desire to do anything active, change was on the horizon. After running the marathon the running bug had hit and I set a goal for another race, then the next. As time went on, the races became faster and PBs ensued. The weight loss, the confidence and the social aspect took over. My running colleagues became my friends. I now smile more, feel determined, motivated and live life like I run:- enjoy every minute of it. Having lost 3 stone I constantly try to upgrade the past and perfect the future: running faster, smiling more and achieving the best I can.

When I’m not running, I work for a charity which provides services to people with educational needs. Father to three girls has taught me to appreciate the joys they bring and never take things for granted. The joy they bring I try to reflect on others and always laugh at life for it is a pleasure.

Recently I was asked why I joined the Harriers. There was no thought required:- it’s the team spirit after a race, the friendly faces of those members, the social aspect of the Wednesday run and the speed of the track, in other words no matter what your capability or speed you can belong.

I started running parkruns just a few weeks before lockdown in 2020 and spent the majority of the next year building up my running, and using it to reduce stress, until eventually plucking  up the courage to join the Harriers in May 2021. That was one of  the best decisions I have ever made.

Since joining the Harriers my running has gone from strength to strength as I have run two marathons and am hoping to achieve a Boston Qualifying time this year if my little legs run fast enough!

I tend to be a regular at track, club run and parkrun and just love a long run on Sunday if I am not running a race somewhere. I like nothing better than running a race in my Harriers top.