Committee
A list of committee member roles and responsibilities can be found here.
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Karen Flowers
ChairpersonAbout Karen Flowers
Swim, bike or run?
RunRoad or trail?
BothYour most precious running memory
Completing my first marathon in Mont Saint MichelBiggest Achievement – Running or non-running
Emigrating to UK in 2000Favourite distance
Anything from half marathon upwardsFavourite race
Bromley 10kFavourite training session
No favourites really – they are all toughBest running achievement
Hamburg ½ – within 30 seconds of the 2 hour barrierPreferred running brand – shoes or kit
HokaWhen did you join Witham RC?
2015Top tip for running
Consistency.Who is your sporting hero?
Francois Pienaar – 1995 Springbok Rugby CaptainBest race location (any distance)
Mont Saint MichelBest race to achieve a PB in (any distance)
Gt Bentley 1/2Favourite pre-race breakfast
PorridgePost-race recovery ideas
Chocolate milk, stretches, hot bath and a large glass of wineBest ever movie
St Elmos Fire (now I’m showing my age)Cheesiest song, guilty pleasure song
Any 80s songClaim to fame
Still trying to tick that box!Are Jaffa Cakes a cake or a biscuit?
Biscuit of courseMarmite – Yes or No?
Oh most definitely YESWhat goes on your chips?
Tomato Sauce or ChilliCats or Dogs?
DogsWho would play you in a film of your life?
Katie Holmes (I Wish!)Favourite sweets/crisps/drink/meal?
Wine, wine, wine/ Liquorice/ Lentil Crisps/ Bean ChilliWhich fancy dress character are you not ashamed of being passed by in a race?
None of them – it’s always embarrassing – how do they do it?Best race medal?
Hampton Court 1/2Favourite holiday?
Anywhere at the moment – just give me a beach, sun lounger, my kindle and a cocktailWhat is your hidden talent?
My sons would say its my hearing -
James Attenborough
Vice Chair & Membership SecretaryAbout James Attenborough
Swim, bike or run?
Love them all but running the mostRoad or trail?
Road Races, Trails for long runsYour most precious running memory
The noise in Manchester Marathon but also notable club mentions from the Suffolk Back Uard Ultra to Ekiden 22.Biggest Achievement – Running or non-running
Being awarded Club member of the year for 2021/22 meant a lot.Favourite distance
10kFavourite race
Colchester HalfFavourite training session
Any in the Orchards Wickham BishopsPreferred running brand – shoes or kit
Mizuno WaveridersWhen did you become a member of Witham RC?
Member since May 2018.Top tip for running
Enjoy it as best you canWho is your sporting hero?
Eric CantonaBest race location (any distance)
Meerbrook 15kBest race to achieve a PB in (any distance)
Angel 5kFavourite pre-race breakfast
Peanut Butter on toast or fruit and YoghurtPost-race recovery ideas
Long soak in the bath, followed by eating 5x the amount of calories you burnt.Best ever movie
Forrest GumpCheesiest song, guilty pleasure song
Piano Man – Billy JoelClaim to fame
Yes, I’m related! (very distantly)Are Jaffa Cakes a cake or a biscuit?
Cake, biscuits can be dunked…Marmite – Yes or No?
Hell noWhat goes on your chips?
GravyCats or Dogs?
Dogs but Cats are far more self sufficientWho would play you in a film of your life?
Will FerrellFavourite sweets/crisps/drink/meal?
Steak and chipsWhich fancy dress character are you not ashamed of being passed by in a race?
Not knowingly happened yet….Best race medal?
Lisbon HalfFavourite holiday?
The peace and quiet of the Yorkshire DalesWhat is your hidden talent?
My dancing…wait that’s not hidden or good is it?! -
Angela Read
SecretaryAbout Angela Read
To follow!
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Clive Smith
TreasurerAbout Clive Smith
Swim, bike or run?
RunRoad or trail?
RoadYour most precious running memory?
Brighton marathon 2017 – my first ever marathon and major raceBiggest Achievement – Running or non-running?
Entering the prestigious sub 20min 5km club (even if it was just once)Favourite distance?
5km or Half marathonFavourite race?
Brighton MarathonFavourite training session
Who doesn’t like a long slow run?Preferred running brand – shoes or kit?
Nike trainers all day long.How long been running/member of WRC?
I was a Witham junior back in the day, but started back up running in 2016 and joined WRC as an adult in 2019.Top tip for running?
Legs and core at the gym.Who is your sporting hero?
Paul Scholes. The man is a genius.Best race to achieve a PB in (any distance)?
Everyone raves on about Great Bentley Half and I cant disagreeFavourite pre-race breakfast?
Overnight oats and a bananaPost-race recovery ideas?
Pizza in the bath.Best ever movie?
The Dark KnightCheesiest song, guilty pleasure song?
Torn – Natalie Imbruglia.Claim to fame?
My left arm once made it into the Braintree and Witham TimesAre Jaffa Cakes a cake or a biscuit?
I guess a cake?Marmite – Yes or No?
Hell yeahWhat goes on your chips?
Curry SauceCats or Dogs?
DogsFavourite sweets/crisps/drink/meal?
Fizzy blue bottles / Sweet Chilli Sensations / Guinness / lasagneBest race medal?
Sydney Half MarathonFavourite holiday?
Skiing in the alpsWhat is your hidden talent?
Ability to crucify any song on demand -
Will Radley
CaptainAbout Will Radley
To follow!
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Jodee Mayer
CaptainAbout Jodee Mayer
WRC Member Since:
January 2019
WRC Coach Since:
July 2019
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
It has to be a trail ultra these days!
Best Running Performance:
Going with the same theme, completing Race To The King 100k(+) in 2022.
Proudest Running Moment:
Crossing the finish line of London Marathon 2019 with my friend and WRC member Libby.
Favourite Runner(s):
Paula Radcliffe is on my “Dinner Party” list.
Favourite Session to Run:
Speed session – Moneghetti Fartlek (shocker). Really I just like to run though, these days on the trails having an adventure.
Long Term Running Goals:
I want to see how far I can go.
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
CiRF
How Long Have you been coaching:
Since July 2019
Why did you become a coach?:
Because I genuinely really enjoy shouting encouragingly at people, holding a clipboard, and blowing a whistle.
Coaching Influences:
I’d never really known of any coaches until I joined WRC, just followed a plan I downloaded from the internet, so it’d have to be the lovely coaching team at WRC.
Best Coaching Advice:
Not sure if this counts as advice, but my favourite saying is “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, just never give up.”
Favourite Session to Coach:
Moneghetti Fartlek – I like to run it and to run it!
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
I’d like to say something intellectual but my favourite films, in no particular order, are: Forrest Gump, Dirty Dancing, and The Tigger Movie
Favourite Book:
The only book I have read more than once out of choice is “Me before You” by JoJo Moyes.
Favourite Band/Musician:
Red Hot Chili Peppers – I have seen them live 8 times and own a collection of never released studio recordings.
Favourite Food:
CHEEEEEEEESE. Which is really sad for someone that is lactose intolerant.
Other Interests:
Does drinking gin count as an interest? I like hanging out with my family and friends (drinking gin), doing escape rooms (before or after drinking gin), and doing jigsaw puzzles (whilst drinking gin).
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Natasha Layley
Female WelfareAbout Natasha Layley
TBC
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Andrew Watson
Male WelfareAbout Andrew Watson
To follow!
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Natalie Lilley
Fixtures SecretaryAbout Natalie Lilley
Road or trail?
Trail, but I do like both.Swim, bike or run?
Run. I’d like to be better at the other two, but am sadly terrible at both!Your most precious running memory.
Completing the Essex 20 in 2020, just before everything stopped.Favourite distance
Probably 5k – still working on completing longer distances in a decent time.Favourite training session
Moneghetti fartleks. Isn’t that everyone’s? 🙂Best running achievement
Completing the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee in spring/summer 2020 – 1000km in 4 months.Preferred running brand – shoes or kit
Hoka Cliftons.When did you join Witham RC?
Have dabbled for years but only started running in earnest when I joined WRC in 2017.Top tip for running
Get dressed and get out – even a short/slow run when you’re struggling for motivation can feel great.Who is your sporting hero?
Lewis Hamilton. Probably not that relevant!Best race for support (any distance)
There are lots of good ones but I like Langham 10k.Best race medal
I like my Hare &Tortoise “ice cream sundae” the best.Favourite pre-race breakfast
Jam on toastMarmite – yes or no?
Yes, and loads of it!Cats or dogs?
Both.Best ever movie
Terminator 2, or Outbreak.Favourite sweets/crisps/drink/meal
Pumpkin spiced latte.Justify whether you think a Jaffa cake is a cake or a biscuit
Its a cake. -
Steven Alder
WebmasterAbout Steven Alder
Swim, bike or run?
Running. I think I used my bike twice in all of the lockdowns, and in the last 5 years I’ve only been swimming twice…Road or trail?
Road, although there are some members of the running club trying to convert me to trail!Your most precious running memory
An odd one, but way before I was in a running club I attempted Halstead Marathon back in 2015. I came second from last, way outside the timeframe, and everytime I saw a marshal I got emotional. Never did do a marathon again…Biggest Achievement – Running or non-running
Favourite distance
5k or 10k – and you’ll always find me at a parkrun (but probably not repeating one)Favourite race
WRC John Roberts series – love the way the series works (and also winning the handicap race in 2022)Favourite training session
I enjoy the loops around Eastways Industrial EstateBest running achievement
All the different parkruns I’ve been able to complete!Preferred running brand – shoes or kit
HokaWhen did you join Witham RC?
April 2022 – I didn’t even do the trial, I read the website, joined instantly and then went off to a pub run a few hours laterTop tip for running
If you need to take a short break or go for a slower speed, there’s nothing wrong with thatWho is your sporting hero?
I sit in awe at how skilled the gymnasts are at the OlympicsBest race location (any distance)
Southend 10k, my fastest 10k distance, and I’d like to go back and beat my timeBest race to achieve a PB in (any distance)
10k – one day I am going to get sub 50!Favourite pre-race breakfast
I don’t normally eat before a run, but if it’s a longer run, I have some porridgePost-race recovery ideas
If any of the coaches ask, I always stretch…Best ever movie
Back to the FutureCheesiest song, guilty pleasure song
Probably something by DisneyClaim to fame
I was on Anglia News as a child, ordering peas for lunchAre Jaffa Cakes a cake or a biscuit?
It’s in the name…Marmite – Yes or No?
I’m one of those oddballs in the middle – I think it is ok, I can eat it, but I wouldn’t go out and buy itWhat goes on your chips?
I rarely eat chips, and if I do eat them, it ends up more mayonaise than chips…Cats or Dogs?
Neither (sorry animal lovers!)Who would play you in a film of your life?
Rowan Atkinson, although he is a bit older than me…Favourite sweets/crisps/drink/meal?
Cake, custard, most things sweet…Best race medal?
Chelmsford Half 2023Favourite holiday?
Any where I can do an international parkrun -
Jenny Layley
Social SecretaryAbout Jenny Layley
Swim, bike or run?
Run – if you can call my plodding running 🙂Road or trail?
Now I have discovered trail I would always choose trail – not just because my injuries have all come from road running!Your most precious running memory
Training for East Hanningfield, St Peters Way, SBYU and RTTK with the girls – and a particular point in time memory was halfway along St Peter’s Way ringing Sazza Naughton and singing Bon Jovi down the phone at her as she had to pull out of the race late on after doing SO MUCh training!Biggest Achievement – Running or non-running
Non running – probably Kilimanjaro, it was the closest I came to quitting when you climb to the summit in -15 degree temp and what feels like a giant sandcastle. Running it is probably the 100km Race To The King – despite my meltdown at 95KM I finished it with the help of a fantastic teamFavourite distance
10 milesFavourite race
The H&T remembrance run – always super poignant and the bling is the bestFavourite training session
Any pyramid session – NOT hillsBest running achievement
Either London Marathon or the first SBYU I did where I managed 33 miles with very little training – under some tough cut off timesPreferred running brand – shoes or kit
SauconyWhen did you join Witham RC?
2019Top tip for running
Run with friendsWho is your sporting hero?
Dame Kelly HolmesBest race location (any distance)
If you like hills the location for Race to the King was stunning all round Goodwood and the South DownsBest race to achieve a PB in (any distance)
Bromley 10kFavourite pre-race breakfast
Protein bagel with marmite and peanut butterPost-race recovery ideas
Stretching and PelotonBest ever movie
The Blues BrothersCheesiest song, guilty pleasure song
Any and all belters but especially ErasureClaim to fame
I am descended from Richard III – the last nobility in my family was disinherited after she ran away with a vicar to Gretna GreenAre Jaffa Cakes a cake or a biscuit?
Biscuit – and you can dunk themMarmite – Yes or No?
YESWhat goes on your chips?
Cheese, tomato ketchup or mayonnaise – but not all at the same timeCats or Dogs?
BothWho would play you in a film of your life?
Duffy from Casualty or Siobhan from Succession…..Favourite sweets/crisps/drink/meal?
Marmite, Cheese and Crisps sandwichesWhich fancy dress character are you not ashamed of being passed by in a race?
Any of them – it happens all the time 😀Best race medal?
Remembrance medals by Hare and TortoiseFavourite holiday?
SkiingWhat is your hidden talent?
I would have said stamina – but RTTK tested that. So maybe it’s my secret talent for socialising – or cake eating!!! -
Ian Lucas
Kit SecretaryAbout Ian Lucas
Bio to follow!
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Colin Short
Press OfficerAbout Colin Short
Bio to follow!