Meet (just a few) of The Team

I’ve been running for a few years now and still loving it. All of my PB’s are behind me but there are still challenges of a different nature to be undertaken. My proudest moment was in 2012 when all my family, Geraldine, Dan and Nadia completed the London Marathon.  I have particularly enjoyed being part of this club and seeing members develop with their running and confidence. It is a tall order but we try to offer as many aspects of running as possible to cater for all abilities. I am a competitor and have previously loved to be in a race but of late I have moved in to ultra off road events. The mental approach is totally different and the challenge is for me just to be able to complete an event.

I started run walk in 2016, never having been any kind of athletic person in my life! Back then, the idea of running 3 miles seemed like the ultimate goal. I'm not really sure what happened after this, safe to say, I must have enjoyed the running, the company, the health benefits - and definitely the bling. I completed my 4th marathon in 2022, which for me, is quite unbelievable.

Without the STARC family, I don't believe I could ever have achieved half of the things I have done over the last 6 years. The support, camaraderie, inclusiveness within STARC continues to draw in new members as well as build the confidence of everyone, no matter their capabilities. To be a part of that is something special. 

I'm never going to be 'fast', I'll never be top of the tables, and my moto remains, "Finish Lines, not Finish Times"

My running journey started with every mile being a struggle: I never imagined being able to run 3 miles. But that became 6, then 10 then... Being part of STARC has been like having a second family. The support and knowledge has helped me improve my running with some highlights including London Marathon, the Plague and the Arc100. I still love local races and especially running and volunteering at parkrun. Being a Men's Captain between 2021 and 2022 meant helping others on their running journey and supporting our members and celebrating their many successes.

I'm the newbie of the group, only joining STARC in January this year. I've been running for a number of years but doing canicross, with my dog Basil. However, Basil is too small to drag me around the woods, so I figured I would have to get faster if we were to get faster!
So, I joined the club to get better at running but I would never have imaged I would be where I am now, 11 months on. As soon as I joined the club I was inspired by the members and what they achieve, and quickly became hooked. If you had asked me 5 years ago, I would have said I DO NOT RUN. Now I enjoy running 10K and half marathons and have London Marathon next year. I always say, if I can run, anyone can run! 
I hope to help the club where I can and help others who join STARC to feel as welcome as I was and to realise what they can achieve! 

My role is to have a listening, non-judgmental ear to provide pastoral and spiritual care to any of our members. This is very much by permission and is confidential. I’m here for those with a faith or no faith and it’s about the well being of all those involved in sport. In other words; if you run, need a chat (like cake), then I’m here for you.

In addition, I maintain the running stats, so if you have any queries regarding this, please get in touch

After dabbling in running for a few years, I joined STARC in January 2020 in what was probably the most bizarre time in our lives. Since then, I've really enjoyed running with the club, loved the races that I've competed in and seen huge improvements in my running through the club's structured sessions. I've also upped my running game with my annual mileage going from 400 in 2022 to 1,000 miles in 2023 completing all 13 races in the GP series including my first marathon. Whether you're a marathon winner or simply want to take your first steps from couch to 5k, STARC has a place for everyone.

My love for running stems from my childhood, running cross country races and a few half marathons. I remember my dad saying come on let's take the dog for a walk and we would always do the same route with this massive hill in it and then he would say come on then up and back 5 times, maybe that's where my love for hills come from. So if you come on one of my runs you will prob find there is a few hills involved. I then left running for a few years and played football until my late 20's, That's when I started my family and gave up football only to realise that I needed to do some sort of fitness which was going back to running. I started running for the club in January 2013 and never looked back, so supportive and as many say it's like an extended family to me. What I love about the club is everybody has their own reasons for running and their own goals, mine is to compete and gives me my own head space time. I love how diverse the club is regarding no matter what distance you do or what terrain you do everyone is supportive and encourages you. This is my 2nd stint of being mens captain and it is an honour to represent the club. My favourite distance is the marathon and I love seeing people who never believe they will do one are now doing multiple marathons a year. Remember your race your pace

I joined running club after my best friend Sarah told me that if I could walk up Fowey hill that fast, I could run with her. So, after some persuasion I joined the run/walk & have never looked back. In my first year, I ran Newquay 10k & Indian Queens half marathon. Since then, I have run a number of marathons, the Grand Prix races, Multi Terrain races, the RAT Black & Plague also completing a Half Iron Man. The club is a big part of my life with so many friends who have helped me through the tough times & made the good times.

I’m pretty new to running, started in 2018 after losing my beloved horse. My sister Steph encouraged me to enter something called the RAT!! Little did I know what I was letting myself in for. Anyway, the training began and I caught the “running bug”. My biggest achievement to date has been completing the White Rat & Red Rat twice. I hope to complete a marathon in the future. Trail running is my passion, I love completing the trail races, the muddier the better. I really enjoy the social aspect of the club and have made some lovely friends within it. You also can’t beat the camaraderie and support at the races. I definitely feel part of the “Club family”.

I joined STARC in October 2020 after moving down here from living in London (originally from North Devon) with my wife & 2 boys, Marlon & Ethan. 
When I arrived at the club I was very welcomed and I think it was Jamie Masters I met on my first night as I shuffled across to the sub 7/8's. He soon took me under his wing and became my 'Maverick'. As the weeks went by I got to see what a great club I choose and the awesome camaraderie within the club. 
THEN the races started to come in and after my first race, I was like oohhhh...I've got the bug for running now!  so for me I train to race plus it gives me great pride to show off the purple and gold vest at race events
I am at the end of my second year of running/racing/ competing and before coming to STARC I hadn't ran much and now I have a new second family.
So if you see me out n bout give me a wave...I'm not always running fast and when I'm not running I'll be driving the red bus.
My favourite events are Half Marathon's, 10 mile events & 10K oh and I like the odd Parkrun.

I have always enjoyed sport, and running seemed to be a natural progression after playing football for many years all around Cornwall. I particularly love following a training plan and racing in shorter races, when fit! However, like others my first experience wasn’t one to remember, off I shot at a hundred miles an hour only to be on my haunch’s 150m later.

I joined STARC just over 10 years ago and joined the Captaincy team a year later before becoming Chair. I believe that the success of our club comes from our ethos of being an all inclusive club and it really is one big family. I am really proud to say that I have made many great friends at the club with whom I have enjoyed many adventures with, and, long may that continue

I started running at the age of 57, I was asked to come along to the club with a friend who had been running for a few years. I thought she was mad! I had never considered running but had recently given up horse riding following a nasty fall.
I agreed to go on a Monday for run walk, the leaders at the time were great and very supportive so I not only went back the following week, I am still running 10 years later!
I have exceeded all my expectations, I have been supported by the club at all levels, never in a million years did I think I would be able to run the London Marathon let alone the Red RAT.
I have been a leader now for about 4 years and enjoy sharing my journey and inspiring new runners. I am also the membership secretary, I put myself forward for this role to give something back to the club. 

Coastguard Rescue Officer and Event Medic. 

Running is important to me, giving both physical and mental benefits. It has also given me some great friendships. I have been lucky to live and run in many countries. Highlights, London, GNR ( 10 times - goes past the street where i was born) , Sydney City to Surf, Dallas and Austin Marathons, Texas Independence Relay, Strangest run? 10k on a frozen lake at -15 in Finland. 

I’m really excited to be taking on the role as mens vice captain. I have been at the club for 2 years now. My running journey started rather forcefully when I joined the Army at 17. Having left the military 15 years ago my fitness levels dropped dramatically and I decided that as I was approaching the big 40 I should probably start getting fit again! I started running by myself but quickly realised I missed the structure and discipline to get out and pound those pavements!

I joined STARC for the structured sessions and the chance to run competitively again. STARC is full of inspirational members who help with race knowledge and driving me to try new things, this year I am taking on some ultra races along with an Ironman Triathlon. I am also going through my leaders training and I look forward to running and leading different groups in the club and hopefully passing on some of the knowledge I've gained whilst being a member of STARC.