Committee

A list of committee member roles and responsibilities can be found here.

Karen Flowers
Chairperson
About

About Karen Flowers

Swim, bike or run?
Run

Road or trail?
Both

Your most precious running memory
Completing my first marathon in Mont Saint Michel

Biggest Achievement – Running or non-running
Emigrating to UK in 2000

Favourite distance
Anything from half marathon upwards

Favourite race
Bromley 10k

Favourite training session
No favourites really – they are all tough

Best running achievement
Hamburg ½ – within 30 seconds of the 2 hour barrier

Preferred running brand – shoes or kit
Hoka

When did you join Witham RC?
2015

Top tip for running
Consistency.

Who is your sporting hero?
Francois Pienaar – 1995 Springbok Rugby Captain

Best race location (any distance)
Mont Saint Michel

Best race to achieve a PB in (any distance)
Gt Bentley 1/2

Favourite pre-race breakfast
Porridge

Post-race recovery ideas
Chocolate milk, stretches, hot bath and a large glass of wine

Best ever movie
St Elmos Fire (now I’m showing my age)

Cheesiest song, guilty pleasure song
Any 80s song

Claim to fame
Still trying to tick that box!

Are Jaffa Cakes a cake or a biscuit?
Biscuit of course

Marmite – Yes or No?
Oh most definitely YES

What goes on your chips?
Tomato Sauce or Chilli

Cats or Dogs?
Dogs

Who 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 Chilli

Which 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 1/2

Favourite holiday?
Anywhere at the moment – just give me a beach, sun lounger, my kindle and a cocktail

What is your hidden talent?
My sons would say its my hearing
Natalie Lilley
Vice Chair
About

About 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 toast

Marmite – 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.
Liz Stuckey
Secretary
About

About Liz Stuckey

Swim, bike or run?
All 3! Can’t pick just one

Road or trail?
Road

Biggest Achievement – Running or non-running
Qualifying to represent Great Britain at the World Age Group Triathlon Standard Distance Championships in Cozumel in 2016 and Lausanne in 2019

Favourite distance
Running – 5k, Triathlon – Olympic Distance

Favourite training session
Kenyan Hills

Best running achievement
Running – Helping the WRC ladies win the Essex Team County Championships in 2017
Triathlon – The Alpe D’Huez Triathlon

Preferred running brand – shoes or kit
Adidas Shoes as they suit my narrow feet

How long been running/member of WRC
15 Years

Top tip for running
Run for enjoyment.

Who is your sporting hero?
Lucy Charles-Barclay

Favourite pre-race breakfast
Toast

Post-race recovery ideas
Milkshake

Marmite – Yes or No?
Yes

What goes on your chips?
Ketchup

Best race medal?
Cozumel World Championships 2016

Favourite holiday?
Australia seeing the New Year’s Fireworks over the Sydney Harbour Bridge was pretty special
Clive Smith
Treasurer
About

About Clive Smith

Swim, bike or run?
Run

Road or trail?
Road

Your most precious running memory?
Brighton marathon 2017 – my first ever marathon and major race

Biggest Achievement – Running or non-running?
Entering the prestigious sub 20min 5km club (even if it was just once)

Favourite distance?
5km or Half marathon

Favourite race?
Brighton Marathon

Favourite 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 disagree

Favourite pre-race breakfast?
Overnight oats and a banana

Post-race recovery ideas?
Pizza in the bath.

Best ever movie?
The Dark Knight

Cheesiest song, guilty pleasure song?
Torn – Natalie Imbruglia.

Claim to fame?
My left arm once made it into the Braintree and Witham Times

Are Jaffa Cakes a cake or a biscuit?
I guess a cake?

Marmite – Yes or No?
Hell yeah

What goes on your chips?
Curry Sauce

Cats or Dogs?
Dogs

Favourite sweets/crisps/drink/meal?
Fizzy blue bottles / Sweet Chilli Sensations / Guinness / lasagne

Best race medal?
Sydney Half Marathon

Favourite holiday?
Skiing in the alps

What is your hidden talent?
Ability to crucify any song on demand
Annalise Tye
Captain
About

About Annalise Tye

Swim, bike or run?

Run all the way! Haven’t swam properly since primary school and my last two bikes got stolen.

Road or trail?

Trail-there’s something especially satisfying running alongside all the beautiful locks and rivers around here.

Your most precious running memory

Admittedly I got a bit teary running my first half marathon race…

Biggest Achievement – Running or non-running

Hopefully still to come in my life! A decent one was getting my ACA whilst handling a very full-time graduate job in audit and the nightmare of the pandemic.

Favourite distance

Over 5 miles-the 10 to half marathon is a real sweet spot of being able to take you to further away to new places. Over 10 miles is enough time to really zone out of everything else…

Favourite race
Likely still to come! Maybe Manchester will be as my first marathon?

Favourite training session

Summer pub runs…because pub, but also really good turnout and social aspect to catch up with everyone after.

Best running achievement
So far? I haven’t been running too long so at this moment it would be my first proper half marathon race-Colchester Stampede. It felt like a real achievement, a year ago I had only ever ‘accidentally’ run 15k once and otherwise found 10k more than enough to run!

Preferred running brand – shoes or kit

Sweaty Betty running leggings-they have back zipped pocket and a side pocket for your phone! A dream-female clothing often don’t have enough pockets. Plus they come in jazzy patterns…

When did you join Witham RC?

April 2022

Top tip for running
It’s easy to have a bad run for various reasons but it’s important to try and shake it off, and go out again the next day, fresh!

Who is your sporting hero?

Mo Farah-as much because of his back story as his running achievements.

Best race location (any distance)

Brentwood-because the 12k nuclear race is really fun, in a different kind of way to normal running races.

Best race to achieve a PB in (any distance)

Great Bentley is quite flat for a HM, and good WRC turnout. Same for Tiptree 10-this is at the end of the season in October so the added benefit of coming off the back of a summer of training.

Favourite pre-race breakfast
Don’t really have one, I like chocolate porridge with berries?

Post-race recovery ideas

Food and open to the idea of a nap…

Best ever movie
Depends on my mood-I usually rewatch (and re-read) the Harry Potters every year…

Cheesiest song, guilty pleasure song

I feel no guilt but I imagine the judgement for some of the baby metal I listen to

Claim to fame

I’ve been in the local newspaper for winning some awards and trophies for music competitions back in the day (violin and piano).

Are Jaffa Cakes a cake or a biscuit?

Doesn’t matter-I only care about how I eat it. Choclate first, then orange segment then the bottom bit.

Marmite – Yes or No?

Yes

What goes on your chips?
Ketchup and that’s pretty much it.

Cats or Dogs?

Dogs everytime

Who would play you in a film of your life?

A few people have compared me to Zooey Deschanel (New Girl), probably because she’s brunette and has a fringe!

Favourite sweets/crisps/drink/meal?

Jelly tots, thai sweet chilli sensations…

Which fancy dress character are you not ashamed of being passed by in a race?

Any of them-I greatly respect the effort.

Best race medal?
Stebbing 10 as it’s a nice poppy for Remembrance Sunday

Favourite holiday?

Hard to pick-I love skiing in Canada each year with my family.

What is your hidden talent?

Hidden non-talent is that I can’t wink-my face twitches in a ridiculously bad way!
Sasha Rush
Female Welfare
About

About Sasha Rush

Favourite shoes?

Altras

When did you join WRC?

Joined in approx 2018, might have been 2017!

What is your claim to fame?

As a kid I was on Top Banana, it was a gameshow hosted by Timmy Mallett.

Favourite medal:

Hard to choose as I have some cracking medals. Probably an apple that I got from Langham 10k and the Hare and Tortoise Remembrance Day medal from 2022.

Favourite Race Distance?
Trail over road, I like to eat a picnic whilst I run so anything long

Best Running Performance? Banningham 10 mile, PB’d by 10 minutes and hungover

Proudest Running Moment?Completing 45 miles at Outrun24

Favourite Runner(s)?
Currently its Jasmin Paris, 1st women to win Montane Spine race, 268 miles and breastfeeding….its amazing what our bodies will do!

Favourite Session to Run?
I love a fartlek

Long Term Running Goals?
To keep going as long as i can injury free, pref all trail and over marathon distance

Favourite Film(s)?
I can’t chose a favourite…its between Drop Dead Fred and Uncle Buck, if you not seen them where have you been!

Favourite Book?
I love a good book, The Colour Purple and Liverpool Miss

Favourite Band/Musician?
I listen to most things but currently on my running playlist is Fleetwood Mac, Lady Gaga, Red hot Chillis and Blur

Other Interests?
I love 50’s fashion, obsessed with tattoos but too poor to get any more, fast vehicles inc motorbikes. I come from a large close knit family so spending time with them is always happy, plus my brother is easy to wind up!
Graham Eyre
Male Welfare
About

About Graham Eyre

Bio to follow!
James Blackshaw
Fixtures Secretary
About

About James Blackshaw

Road or trail?
Trail every time. It’s better for your bones, more scenic, and you don’t have to breathe in lungfuls of car fumes!

Your most precious running memory.
Being paced by my wife after struggling in my first ultra marathon.

Best running achievement:
Running for 18 hours.

How long been running/member of WRC:
Five long years.

Top tip for running:
Leave the Garmin at home occasionally and enjoy running for the sake of it.

Best race to achieve a PB in (any distance):
The WRC Angel 5k!

Favourite pre-race breakfast:
Heavily peanut-buttered toast.

Cats or dogs?
Dogs. You don’t get a lot back from a cat, too independent. Plus, you can run with your dog!

Best ever movie?
Hot Fuzz

Favourite sweets/crisps/drink/meal:
Anything that is salted caramel-based.

What’s your hidden talent?
Used to be able to solve the Rubik’s cube in 25 seconds, but I’m a little out of practice at the moment.

Justify whether you think a Jaffa cake is a cake or a biscuit:
A biscuit is hard when it is fresh, and goes soft when it goes off. A cake is soft when it is fresh, and goes hard when it goes off. Hence, a Jaffa cake is either a fresh cake or an off biscuit.
Steven Alder
Webmaster
About

About 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 Estate

Best running achievement
All the different parkruns I’ve been able to complete!

Preferred running brand – shoes or kit
Hoka

When 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 later

Top tip for running
If you need to take a short break or go for a slower speed, there’s nothing wrong with that

Who is your sporting hero?
I sit in awe at how skilled the gymnasts are at the Olympics

Best race location (any distance)
Southend 10k, my fastest 10k distance, and I’d like to go back and beat my time

Best 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 porridge

Post-race recovery ideas
If any of the coaches ask, I always stretch…

Best ever movie
Back to the Future

Cheesiest song, guilty pleasure song
Probably something by Disney

Claim to fame
I was on Anglia News as a child, ordering peas for lunch

Are 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 it

What 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 2023

Favourite holiday?
Any where I can do an international parkrun
James Attenborough
Membership Secretary
About

About James Attenborough

Swim, bike or run?
Love them all but running the most

Road or trail?
Road Races, Trails for long runs

Your 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
10k

Favourite race
Colchester Half

Favourite training session
Any in the Orchards Wickham Bishops

Preferred running brand – shoes or kit
Mizuno Waveriders

When did you become a member of Witham RC?
Member since May 2018.

Top tip for running
Enjoy it as best you can

Who is your sporting hero?
Eric Cantona

Best race location (any distance)
Meerbrook 15k

Best race to achieve a PB in (any distance)
Angel 5k

Favourite pre-race breakfast
Peanut Butter on toast or fruit and Yoghurt

Post-race recovery ideas
Long soak in the bath, followed by eating 5x the amount of calories you burnt.

Best ever movie
Forrest Gump

Cheesiest song, guilty pleasure song
Piano Man – Billy Joel

Claim 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 no

What goes on your chips?
Gravy

Cats or Dogs?
Dogs but Cats are far more self sufficient

Who would play you in a film of your life?
Will Ferrell

Favourite sweets/crisps/drink/meal?
Steak and chips

Which fancy dress character are you not ashamed of being passed by in a race?
Not knowingly happened yet….

Best race medal?
Lisbon Half

Favourite holiday?
The peace and quiet of the Yorkshire Dales

What is your hidden talent?
My dancing…wait that’s not hidden or good is it?!
Jenny Layley
Social Secretary
About

About 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 team

Favourite distance
10 miles

Favourite race
The H&T remembrance run – always super poignant and the bling is the best

Favourite training session
Any pyramid session – NOT hills

Best 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 times

Preferred running brand – shoes or kit
Saucony

When did you join Witham RC?
2019

Top tip for running
Run with friends

Who is your sporting hero?
Dame Kelly Holmes

Best race location (any distance)
If you like hills the location for Race to the King was stunning all round Goodwood and the South Downs

Best race to achieve a PB in (any distance)
Bromley 10k

Favourite pre-race breakfast
Protein bagel with marmite and peanut butter

Post-race recovery ideas
Stretching and Peloton

Best ever movie
The Blues Brothers

Cheesiest song, guilty pleasure song
Any and all belters but especially Erasure

Claim 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 Green

Are Jaffa Cakes a cake or a biscuit?
Biscuit – and you can dunk them

Marmite – Yes or No?
YES

What goes on your chips?
Cheese, tomato ketchup or mayonnaise – but not all at the same time

Cats or Dogs?
Both

Who 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 sandwiches

Which 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 Tortoise

Favourite holiday?
Skiing

What 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 Secretary
About

About Ian Lucas

Bio to follow!
Colin Short
Press Officer
About

About Colin Short

Bio to follow!
James Cooch
Routes Co-ordinator
About

About James Cooch

Road or trail?
Road very little experience in trails

Swim, bike or run?
Run followed by bike

Your most precious running memory.
Crossing finishing line of first ever marathon in 2018

Favourite distance
10 Miles

Favourite race
Currently Dam to Dam Amsterdam (10 miles)

Preferred running brand – shoes or kit
Asics

How long been running/member of WRC
15+ years a work 10K event initially got me into running, 1 year WRC

Top tip for running
Have fun, enjoy it and something I should of done a long time ago run with others

Favourite pre-race breakfast
Banana

Charities raced for
Great Ormond Street Hospital and Farleigh Hospice in 2023

What goes on top of your chips?
Nothing

Marmite – yes or no?
No

Cats or dogs?
Dogs

Favourite holiday
Maldives