Please find below the nominations for the 2017 Runner’s Runner of the Year Award. Some people have been nominated multiple times and the below comments represent an amalgamation of what our members have to say. Voting will be opened later this week and for the rest of January (A link will be provided when voting opens). The winner will be announced at the Presentation Evening in March (date yet to be confirmed).
John Wiseman
I would like to nominate John for being the happiest runner in Lancashire! He leads the short run on a Thursday with great enthusiasm and is a support to everyone, encouraging new runners and entertaining the group with his wonderful sense of humour. His navigational skills are slowly improving (!), and makes sure everyone gets back safely. During club races he continues to encourage others and runs for the club in a range of competitive settings, and is a great asset to Red Rose. An unsung hero. Way-hey!!!!
The Full Monty act at the Christmas do shows what a great sport he is. What an all round good egg.
Life is never dull when John is about! Runs go quicker with John as the experience always seems fun. I genuinely feel happier when I see him at a race, parkrun or RRRR training event. John gives up his time to lead us all and keep us safe for which I am grateful, but as a relatively new member of the running community I also feel thankful for his natural ability to include everyone and make us all feel welcome. An all round top bloke (and not a bad runner either!).
Fantastic guy always encouraging especially for us slow ones at the back really makes our run experience a pleasure rather than a chore and I don’t need to take my head phones he sings all the way round so gotta be a winner.
He runs races most weekends and is supportive of fellow runners, volunteers, dog walkers and pretty much anyone he passes whilst running.
For his thoughtfulness for others on the run, always asking if everyone is ok especially when someone’s back from injury or illness. For his reassurance even when you’re at the back lagging behind and for being able to make us run further than we planned because he’s got lost, I see this a plus as it gets my miles up!! He makes running fun and nurtures a fantastic vibe whenever he is around.
Gina Biggs
100 marathon club member. An amazing inspirational runner who completes marathons, double marathons & ultra marathons most weekends for fun! I have run with this girl and I can’t believe she still doubts herself! She is awesome!
Her willpower and determination. She never gives up and she shows that if you put your mind to something anything can be achieved.
She helps out by volunteering every free Saturday morning she has at Preston Parkrun. Gina is a lively, charismatic member to the Red Rose community whom has come on leaps and bounds as a runner over the past year. It’s not how fast or how far you go, it’s never giving up and Gina is very supportive to many members embarking their first marathons.
John Naylor
John has completed 23 marathons in 2017 alone. With an average time of under 4 hours, he’s beaten his marathon pb twice, representing Red Rose at the London Marathon. He has completed both a 7 in 7 marathon event and a 5 in 5 marathon event – Hell of a Hell, billed as the hardest 5 in 5 in the UK, finishing second overall in both events against tough competition. He is an inspiration to me and many others and has also taken the time to volunteer and help others with their running.
Not only is John an elite runner in my eyes he inspires us to keep going and to take on challenges that we might not normally take on because he makes it look easy. Last year he completed 7 marathons in 7 days with amazing times. He was steady and consistent.
There are probably too many challenges that I am failing to mention, but I am in awe of his achievements and also how much he has supported the club through volunteering. Most specifically arranging the club coach trip to Chester marathon.
It inspired me to push myself and take part in the metric marathon. The club has grown bigger and bigger but John makes a point to make sure nobody feels left out. Top bloke and special mention to out mutual friend Gina Biggs too who has completed 100 marathons.
Laura Houghton
Her dedication to training has shown a real determination and resilience to improving her running pace. As well as this, she supports many others.
David Hindle
An inspiration to all runners – running every day of the year is not an easy task, a truly fantastic effort! That alone deserves an award in my opinion. But not only that, he has always done so with a positive attitude and a smile on his face, even when dealing with difficult and upsetting times in his life. David is always so friendly and encouraging to other runners. This word is used too often but to me it certainly applies to David – he is an inspiration and embodies the spirit of Red Rose.
Ben Smithers
Always a great representative for the club, but nominated for the number of events he enters.
Bernie Mitchell
Since starting with Red Rose. Bernie has been there for me inspiring me at races . When I thought I couldn’t do them. He has made me feel very welcome as part of the running group. He is an excellent runner and an inspiration.
Nicola Hughes
I am nominating Nicola because of her inspirational running and positive attitude. She has trained so hard this year and her times are fantastic. She has been through some tough times but is always positive, smiling and encouraging of others. She is a fantastic listener and has supported me a lot over the last few months . She is an inspiration with her running progress but also for all the volunteering she has done at Cuerden parkrun.
Nicola has smashed some PBs this year. After her illness she has come back with lots of strength, positivity and a determined attitude which shows in her running, which I find very inspiring. She also comes to support at races. She is a lovely person who deserves this award.
Samantha Edwards
My reasons are as follows! Sam kept me going at the end of the Liverpool rock and roll half. At every other race I’ve seen her at Sam is always happy and supportive and always looks like she’s having fun. As such, she is a great advert for our club.
Julie Thorley
Continues to help run the club as a dedicated committee member. Year on year, helping the club go from strength to strength as an important committee member.
Mark McCrea
All round supportive, kind, funny and lovely guy. He always has a smile and a word of encouragement for everyone. He comes to help at interval sessions and makes all welcome to group runs. Instead of running his own race, twice this year he ran with me and paced me to a PB. Very deserving of runner of the year!
Pita Oates
Gives a lot of time to CV parkrun and other Red Rose training events. She is supportive and helps a lot of runners achieve there running goals. A fantastic person.
Amazingly inspired by Pita’s achievements this year and continued commitments to our running community!
Steve Taylor
For all the hard work he puts into organising excellent, charity events not just for Red Rose but the wider running community. He is an excellent ambassador for the club and has been running fantastically this year too.
For encouraging others to run all year and the Christmas period with the challenges 1000 miles for the year and 12 days of Christmas. Also for the many charities supported by these challenges.
Catherine Latham
Catherine is a really deserving nominee for the award. She is a strong runner in her own right, but is mostly seen supporting other runners at Red Rose training runs, parkrun and races. Apart from this, Catherine is one of the most generous and modest people you could meet. She looks out for people who may be in need of support, not just in their running activities but also in many other ways and she never seeks attention for her acts of kindness, many of them happening under the radar. These acts of kindness have included wonderful practical support to Ben Ashworth’s family during the arrangements for his memorial service. More recently, Catherine offered practical help at the Foxton Community Centre, not only donating food as many of our club members did, but also helping to sort out food parcels at the centre. She has also welcomed club members into her family fold at times of the year when no one should feel alone. Catherine’s other skills include fantastic public announcing at local races, including the Lakeland trails and other events. Many a Red Rose Road Runner has been greeted by Catherine’s cheery and witty repartee at the close of a race and no doubt this has encouraged the odd sprint finish! Overall Catherine is a thoroughly lovely person, a great runner and a real credit to the club.
Catherine is such a fantastic supporter of everyone, whether it’s at parkrun, training run or a race. She is such a genuine, generous and kind young lady, the real deal. She even invited a fellow Red Roser who was on her own at Christmas Day to her family’s house. She was also a great supporter and help to Ben Ashworth, and has done volunteer work on the new barn at Cuerden Valley. She does everything quietly, with no fuss and always a big smile on her face. We are very lucky to have her as part of the club.
Nominating Catherine was an easy choice. Very rarely will you find her racing, you are more likely to find her supporting a new runner, helping someone get a PB or simply being her cheerful, helpful self. You can’t fail to be happy in her company and her passion for supporting others is clear for all to see! No agenda, just a kind soul with a massive heart! You will find her mostly at CV parkrun, on a training night or clapping and shouting runners through a finish line! Catherine you are an absolute star.
Paula and John Plowman
Their fantastic organisation of Worden Park 10k, Interclub, cross country and their help leading on a Thursday night.
Paula Plowman
Provides an excellent volunteer service for the club and puts on some fanatastic events. She organised the 10k cross country and inter club run plus helps organise the Thursday club runs. She’s always smiling and a great runner too. A great ambassador for the club.
Anneke Crosby
Anneke continues to encourage others in RRRR and beyond to achieve the best they can. She often leads on Thursday training runs. She is a stalwart of parkrun, often running with others to help them achieve targets and she organises parkrun tourism.
Really supportive and encouraging especially to newcomers. Always willing to come alongside and push you for a pb or make sure you don’t get left behind and does it in such a matter of fact way- no fuss. Good runner to boot!!
Graham ‘Grizzly’ Roberts
Graham ‘Grizzly’ has worked so hard this year, hit all his targets but most importantly he has got the whole team at work to start running! We are all different levels but he is like our coach!! Texting us for parkrun’s, suggesting races. He deserves it!
In the short time I’ve known him, he’s completely smashed his PB and he’s given me encouragement to keep going.
Ann O’Donoghue
For being the most Scottish Red Rose Road Runner.
Stephen Woodruffe
For all his help with the Tempo 8 training run and setting up the Monday night intervals.