Aaron Gourley

6min PB) then finished the Hardmoors 60 a week later in not such good shape and slower than previous attempts. I had a fantastic run at Wooler Trail Marathon finishing in 32nd place then, having finally built up the courage to enter the Tour de Helvellyn which was fantastic, I found it very tough for the last part of the race and again finished in not such good shape.
Alex Collins

Goals 2017: After a year of running long distances, my goal was to stick to short 5k and 10k distances. Just two months into 2017 and I have already entered 2 Half Marathons, 3 Full Marathons, and 1 Ultra Marathon. So that goal is already out the window.
Andrew Davies

Anna Basu

Catherine Smith
Last year I set myself challenges of PBS in all distances and my first marathon – I’m thrilled to say I achieved all of my goals and more. I definitely believe that’s to do with the input of the Strider posse who have helped me improve and diversify.
This year I’d like to continue on the path of personal improvement and enjoyment of running and hopefully do a good job as ladies captain, helping others to do the same.
Chris Shearsmith
2016 was a good running year for me. It was my first year as a Strider, I completed my first marathon at London and recorded new PBs at parkrun, 10k and half marathon.
I was particularly chuffed to get my elusive first sub 50 10k at Darlington in August. I also ran some great races for the first time like Blaydon, Bridges of the Tyne and Pier to Pier. I also had my first muddy experience at the XC!
In 2017, I hope the PBs keep falling and I’ve got a few more races I’d like to give a try for the first time, Northumberland Coastal, Kielder and Brampton to Carlisle are all on my list.
Conrad White

Done a bit more shouting from the sidelines than I would have liked but still running and hoping 2017 will be better. Still love the camaraderie of the sea of purple. What is there not to like ?
Dave Robson

David Brown

I’m under no illusion these goals will come easy, and I’m prepared to put in the graft; as such I hope to actually show face at the club and to make use of the valued and varied sessions.
Dougie Nisbet

I’m also leaning towards long-and-slow, since I’m not very good at short-and-fast. I’m going to give Ultras a try. They sound fun. How hard can they be?
Elaine Bisson
2016, my best and worst year for running…On the roads: March I achieved my dream of a sub 90 minute half marathon time in Liverpool, April took me to the noisiest marathon I could have ever dreamed of running…VMLM, a new PB of 3:17 (I know I can do better!)
The rest of the year was packed with trips to Yorkshire, whether for memorable recces (in deep snow, with wind that actually blew me up Calver hill, blistering sunshine) and for races.
I achieved 3:43, 3rd lady and was part of the ladies winning team at Swaledale Marathon.
Then on to build an amazing running friendship/rivalry battling it out over 90km and 2550metres of ascent against Sarah, to come 2nd lady in the DalesTrails Grand Slam.
August I tore my hamstring in a bog which meant no proper training/running until December….not a good thing for an obsessive runner like myself!
So, 2017 goals…
- Regain my fitness,
- Oh go on, I’ll have some PBs,
- Definitely more races against my Yorkshire rival,
- Training for a very different challenge,
- Above all, to continue to run with some of the most amazing friends I have been lucky enough to make!
Fiona Kinghorn Jones

Fiona Wood

Gareth Pritchard

My refocused training and mindset saw the first racing success at brass monkey with a surprise PB and 2nd strider home on the day. This would be my story for most of the year, chasing a certain club member and keeping the fast lad honest.
Dentdale was my first sniff of potential silverware as I came in a close 4th place, something I mean to improve on this year.
Blackpool half marathon was a massive highlight, I trained hard and achieved a big PB and placed 2nd for the very first time in a major road race. Something I will never forget as I danced like a mad man to the finish line as reality sunk in.
Kirkley 10k saw my very first major road race victory, incredible feeling running behind the lead car and another PB and silverware. Blaydon is another high point as I finally got my first victory of the year over my speedy strider team mate and my training really came together.
This all culminated in the big race, Sunderland 5k. A perfect day and a perfect run, something I may never achieve ever again. Everything went right in the buildup and I smashed my PB with a time of 16:14 and another first strider home placing. I was in shock but on cloud 9, a very special moment in my running story.
In steps a massive spanner to my non marathon 2016 plan, New York City Marathon entry accepted. What an amazing adventure, I got engaged, ran sub 3 hours while being tracked by half our club, and learned countless lessons on what I can achieve. Now as men’s captain and injury free at last, 2016 has been amazing.
If 2017 is half as successful as last year then I will be a very happy lad.
My goals for 2017?
- Continue running consistently sub 17 mins for 5k and maybe dream of a sub 16.
- Finally nail a sub 75 half marathon.
- Improve all my PBs and nail a sub 2:45 marathon.
- Run as much as possible with my amazing fiancée.
- Continue to keep the fast strider lads looking over their shoulder
Jane Dowsett
If anyone had told me at the beginning of the year that I would run 2 half marathons by the end of the year I would never have believed them! I’ve had a great time and enjoyed it so much(at least at the end of each race!). It has also been v beneficial to my health – both physical and mental. I was totally rubbish at PE at school, especially running, so get a massive kick out of the fact that I can actually run!
Goal for 2017: to get rid of a recurrent knee problem and to keep on running…
Jenny Search
In 2016 I turned 40, ran my first ever marathon – in London and ran several smaller races and events (including Cross Country) as part of my training which I really enjoyed. I swam the English Channel with 3 friends as a relay team in July. I’ve also been involved in setting up Durham City junior parkrun which Love.Goals for 2017 include my first standard distance triathlon, a swimrun event and another marathon – eek.
Joanne Patterson

Jonathan Hamill
2016 was a successful running year for me. Motivated by personal challenge, I set a number of targets to provide focus. I was delighted to achieve them all, and dropped a dress size along the way:
2016 Target | 2016 Result | 2015 PBs |
Distance 1500km | 1763km | 1010km |
5k/parkrun <25 mins | 23:48 | 26:34 |
10k <50 mins | 48:37 | 58:52 |
HM <1:55 | 1:53:15 | – |
I did races aplenty but running highlights for me included Paris Breakfast Run (whilst supporting Lesley conquer her first marathon), Pier to Pier, Lisburn Half Marathon, Portrush parkrun, Durham City 10k, GNR for the first time, then the Amsterdam Half Marathon when I secured my HM PB. I also joined the parkrun 50 club.
My toughest battle, yet most rewarding was the Brampton to Carlisle 10 mile race, when I secured a PB of nearly 20 minutes over the previous year, to finish in 1:20:33.
I’m grateful to folk who provided support and encouragement along the way, in particular Jon Ayres. I also enjoyed encouraging others, volunteering, and leading runs (establishing Hamill’s mystery tours)!
2017 sees me tackle the Marathon distance for the first time in Paris – at the moment, that’s my priority! Vous êtes votre seule limite!
Karen Byng

Kath Dodd
2016 has been a year of running highs and lows. Have absolutely loved every day of training , being one of those (lucky) people who don’t need races for motivation. I’m even getting used to the British weather after 4 years here!
My races for the year started with the Hardmoors 30 on New Years Day and ended with the Wooler Trail Half with my training buddies Kate McPherson and Katherine Preston (3 K’s! ) In between there were many highlights, my favourite has to be a distance pb and ‘local record’ for 24 hours and 121.5 miles nonstop on Maiden Castle track for a local mental health charity RT projects. This was followed very closely by the Strider’s charity relays and the Lake Wake Challenge with my very patient Ultra hero (and navigator) Dave Robson, without him I’d still be lost out on the moors somewhere 😉 The lowest point was an acute cartilage tear requiring knee surgery in August but thanks to physio Neil and a surgeon who runs I was back out there pretty quickly.
Aim for 2017…stay healthy, complete 3 marathons in 3 days on the Jurassic Coast Challenge and do at least one more 24 hour race (not on a track!) Whilst continuing to bring people into running through C25k groups and inspiring others to push their boundaries. Love it.
Kathleen Bellamy

Katy Walton
My statement this year was if you can’t run coach, so I did. It was so enjoyable watching Striders have a go at track and field and to be there to support and advise. The team spirit of everyone helped me through what could have been a lonely and tough period.
Mike Hughes
Had a great time in early 2016 having a good excuse to escape to the lakes to train. Completing my Bob Graham has still not sunk in I don’t think. Looking forward to more trips this year and supporting others in their attempts. Our Sally finally “got me” at park run.2017: keep injury free, enjoy running, do my best as mens VC, get some pb’s and a generous dollop of X/C mud. !
Penny Browell

Rachelle Mason
I have loved doing the cross country races and also the team events such as the Neptune relays & Cathedral relays. I also had great fun doing the athletics competitions. This year I would like to run faster and race further!
Steve Ellis
SMASHED IT!!!! Not hyperbole at all, as on a personal level it has been a great year on the roads…every personal best beaten …Mile..Time trial..5k.. Park run..10k (sub 50min) 10 mile..half- marathon ( sub 2hr).
Also I completed every park run in the “challenge” in under 25mins.
My left arm has not been so tired as I have been running against the clock so much! Its been a hard year but ultimately a great one and thankfully injury free. I can only hope to get somewhere close next year….
My hopes though rest elsewhere. I would love to see Jan back to full fitness so we can get out onto the hills and fells, as we hoped for this year but her injuries have put the mokkers on that! Also any other striders whose presence we are greatly missing at present because of injuries…(Dave Spence..Adam Bent..to name but two.)
With mutual support and encouragement to be a little adventurous occasionally and even pushed out of our comfort zones we develop as runners and people. Our club gives this in spade loads and I for one applaud it loudly.
Sue Gardham
Sue Jennings

Tamsin Imber

4.15. At the end of 2014 Laura Gibson, whom I knew from a toddler group, said that a friend of hers (Kate Mac) was setting up a running group just for mums, and looking for a social aspect I joined ‘Durham Mums on the Run’ (Dmotr) and then Striders in Spring 2015. I began 2015 with the Northumberland marathon in February (an Endurancelife event) which went along the coast from Bamburgh Castle to Alnwick. It was stunningly beautiful! Following this, Kate Macphearson mentioned the Hardmoors races to me. At about this time I was also sitting in a cafe with a friend who asked me about my running. I said I was hoping to do a Hardmoors race, and he asked me about them. I said there were 7 trail marathons in the series, and he replied, ‘Well, obviously you won’t be able to do all 7.” Therefore, I indulged myself in 10 (mostly trail) marathons that year. I should thank him as it was a fantastic experience! In 2016 I decided to try races of different distances. I am so pleased I joined both Dmotr and Striders! Both the social and running aspects are great! They have introduced me to track-sessions, speed-work and the fantastic NE Cross country harrier league which I love for the team aspect ! I find I enjoy both road and off-road running and hope to improve as much as I can. Thanks for being such a brilliant running club! Its been great to meet so many inspiring and supportive people!
- To get a PB at the London Marathon
- To do a fell race in the summer that involves going up and down a BIG hill.
Timothy Skelton

pros has seen my times improve so overall I’m pleased. I hit my targets for last year but know apathy at times got the better of me.
This coming year I plan to run more trail races and try do more half marathons than 10kms. I also want to try double my 401 miles this year which will be a tough challenge whilst juggling a young family (and wife). I also need to run
off this Xmas chunk as soon a possible.
Lesley Hamill
My biggest achievement of 2016 was completing my first Marathon in Paris. This year I have chosen to stay closer to home, and run the Liverpool Marathon with two of my Strider buddies.