Coaching Team
Meet the Team
Coaching Co-ordinator
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Scott Darney (LiRF)
About Scott Darney (LiRF)
WRC Member Since:
2014
WRC Coach Since:
2018
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
Flat Road Race in perfect conditions or Cross Country
Best Running Performance:
2:58 – Geneva Marathon (2019)
Proudest Running Moment:
10th Place at Trail Half Marathon Wales (2018)
Favourite Runner(s):
Eliud Kipchoge, Emil Zatopek, Yuki Kawauchi, Steve Jones.
Favourite Session to Run:
Track for serious stuff, trails for fun!
Long Term Running Goals:
London Marathon (Oct-2021) sub 2:45.
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
LiRF (studying for CiRF)
How Long Have you been coaching:
Since 2018 with WRC.
Why did you become a coach?:
I followed a marthon plan with Rogue Running that taught me allot about how to train for a marathon, after which I put the information to use by trying to help others with their marathon planning and it developed from there.
Coaching Influences:
Chris McClung (Rogue Running) & Steve Sisson (Telos Running) and the lovely coaches at WRC!
Best Coaching Advice:
“Train as hard as you need, not as hard as you can” – On Coaching Podcast with Steve Magnus and Jon Marcus.
Favourite Session to Coach:
Track Sessions where athletes don’t know the workout until they start!
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
The Karate Kid, Pans Labrynth, The Big Lewbowski
Favourite Book:
Unbroken (Laura Hillenbrand), The Godfather (Mario Puzo)
Favourite Band/Musician:
The Smiths, Bombay Bicycle Club, Jazzanova, Maribou State, Bonobo, Saint Germain
Other Interests:
Season Ticket Holder at West Ham United COYI!
Coaches
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Rachel Pearsons
Level 2About Rachel Pearsons
WRC Member Since:
I’d have to guess around 2005
WRC Coach Since:
2006
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
I love a decent, muddy cross country.
Best Running Performance:
Berlin Marathon, Sept 2010
Proudest Running Moment:
Finishing my first London Marathon
Favourite Runner(s):
I admire Jessica Ennis-Hill
Favourite Session to Run:
400m VO2 Max
Long Term Running Goals:
To be able to continue to enjoy running, be fit and healthy for as long as possible.
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
LiRF, Level 2 Endurance Group Coach (including the children’s module).
How Long Have you been coaching:
Almost 15 years now!!!
Why did you become a coach?:
To help people achieve their goals and to understand how to be the best they can be.
Coaching Influences:
Simon Mennell is my hero. I admire what he has achieved personally over the years and the huge amount of success his athletes have had.
Best Coaching Advice:
Listen to your body and go with your gut instinct. If it hurts, rest it. If you are tired, sleep. If it doesn’t feel right when you run, that’s because something is wrong. Most importantly, if you miss a session then do not try and fit it in your programme. Strike it off and move on.
Favourite Session to Coach:
Relays and sessions involving group/pair work. People tend to work harder when they are part of a team.
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
Hot Fuzz (obvs!!)
Favourite Book:
Roar by Stacey Sims
Favourite Band/Musician:
Don’t have one! My music taste varies wildly!!
Favourite Food:
Chocolate
Other Interests:
Don’t have one! My music taste varies wildly!!
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Dave Jobling
CiRFAbout Dave Jobling
WRC Member Since:
1993
WRC Coach Since:
2010ish.
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
Too many over too many years! Love cross country fixtures, WRC’s own 5k’s and other local races – big favs are HBO & Chelmsford 10k’s. But then there’s The London Marathon…
Best Running Performance:
Takes me back to a year far far away when I had my best runs at The London Marathon & Langham 10k for those distances with special memories of other team WRC runners then and now.
Proudest Running Moment:
Running at & being part of team WRC at the XC National Finals, qualifying from our then XC league.
Favourite Runner(s):
Steve Ovett, Seb Coe & Steve Cram – I loved watching those guys compete on the track, winning medals & breaking records.
Favourite Session to Run:
I’m a big fan of all our club meets and sessions, but its great to get off the streets and into the big outdoors for our summer runs & speed sessions – thinking here of the Pub runs, 5k’s, The Parks, Riverwalks, Dancing Dicks or The Orchards.
Long Term Running Goals:
Keep fit, keep enjoying it & keep on running!
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
Coach In Running Fitness (CiRF) after LiRF.
How Long Have you been coaching:
Since 2010ish I think.
Why did you become a coach?:
I had been running for many years and doing Thursday night speed sessions since joining the club and we needed coaches to help keep putting these on for members.
Coaching Influences:
John Roberts, Joe Beer (Trainsmart) and picking up new tricks all the time from our WRC coaching team present and past!
Best Coaching Advice:
One takeaway I picked up along the way from somewhere is every run should have a purpose.
Favourite Session to Coach:
WRC has a great speed session archive plus new ideas all the time, it’s great to be able to feed off and deliver these off the streets in our summer locations.
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
Lots but “No Country For Old Men” or anything else Coen Brothers are popular at home.
Favourite Book:
We’re liking “Dear Zoo” at the moment!
Favourite Band/Musician:
It’s a long 60s/70s list but near the top are Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd & Led Zeppelin.
Other Interests:
Anything to distract me from football right now!
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Becky Grimwood
CiRFAbout Becky Grimwood
WRC Member Since:
WRC Coach Since:
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
Best Running Performance:
Proudest Running Moment:
Favourite Runner(s):
Favourite Session to Run:
Long Term Running Goals:
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
How Long Have you been coaching:
Why did you become a coach?:
Coaching Influences:
Best Coaching Advice:
Favourite Session to Coach:
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
Favourite Book:
Favourite Band/Musician:
Other Interests:
Coaching Assistants
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Kerry Townsend
LiRFAbout Kerry Townsend
WRC Member Since:
2010
WRC Coach Since:
2014
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
For overall commitment, difficulty and achievement, it has to be a Marathon.
Best Running Performance:
Hatfield Broad Oak 10k – 2012
Proudest Running Moment:
Finishing my first marathon – Brighton 2012
Favourite Runner(s):
Eddie Izzard as like me, he likes it best when he’s finished.
Favourite Session to Run:
Trails – slow enough for a chat.
Long Term Running Goals:
Just to keep running into old age.
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
LiRF
How Long Have you been coaching:
Since 2014
Why did you become a coach?:
To give something back to the Club.
Coaching Influences:
My running buddies at WRC who continually inspire, encourage and support me.
Best Coaching Advice:
Listen to your Body.
Favourite Session to Coach:
Anything but the 800m/1k Reps
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
Singin’ in the Rain.
Favourite Book:
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Favourite Band/Musician:
David Bowie
Favourite Food:
Sunday Roast
Other Interests:
Yoga, art, painting and drawing, gardening and reading.
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James Crisp
LiRFAbout James Crisp
WRC Member Since:
WRC Coach Since:
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
Best Running Performance:
Proudest Running Moment:
Favourite Runner(s):
Favourite Session to Run:
Long Term Running Goals:
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
How Long Have you been coaching:
Why did you become a coach?:
Coaching Influences:
Best Coaching Advice:
Favourite Session to Coach:
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
Favourite Book:
Favourite Band/Musician:
Other Interests:
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Karen Flowers
LiRFAbout Karen Flowers
WRC Member Since:
2015
WRC Coach Since:
2018
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
Hamburg Half Marathon
Best Running Performance:
Brighton Marathon
Proudest Running Moment:
Completing my first marathon in Mont Saint Michel
Favourite Runner(s):
Zola Budd
Favourite Session to Run:
Love Train
Long Term Running Goals:
In 2020 my goals were to run a sub 2 hour ½ marathon (only 30 sec from there) and a 4 1/2 hour marathon but the pandemic changed everything. With multiple races being cancelled – I turned to trail – running my first trail race last year (Outrun 12 hour) – so this year I have entered my first ultra trail (50k) in August. Will be back running road races though in 2022 hopefully and ready to tackle those goals again!
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
LiRF
How Long Have you been coaching:
Since 2018
Why did you become a coach?:
To give back to the club and for self development
Coaching Influences:
Our more experienced coaches at the time – they were inspirational
Best Coaching Advice:
Consistency – so many runners fall into the trap of increasing their mileage too quickly which only ends in pain/ injury! Follow the 10% rule, increasing your total weekly mileage by no more than 10% each week. I am also a huge advocate of recovery runs after a long run – although painful they are really beneficial
Favourite Session to Coach:
Any session where the sun is shining, the temperature is above 20 degrees Celsius, no wind and definitely no rain!
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
So many to choose from – Out of Africa – as every time I watch it I get homesick
Favourite Book:
I am a real bookworm so this is hard, but I read the classics as a teenager and the one that stood out for me was Little Women – a book written before its time
Favourite Band/Musician:
Anybody who knows me knows that I am a 80s follower – so it would have to be Depeche Mode
Favourite Food:
If I had to chose my last meal it would probably be something that would make most people cringe and that Piri Piri Chicken Livers
Other Interests:
Travelling, reading and coaching and/or mentoring through my profession
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Sasha Rush
LiRFAbout Sasha Rush
WRC Member Since:
WRC Coach Since:
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
Best Running Performance:
Proudest Running Moment:
Favourite Runner(s):
Favourite Session to Run:
Long Term Running Goals:
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
How Long Have you been coaching:
Why did you become a coach?:
Coaching Influences:
Best Coaching Advice:
Favourite Session to Coach:
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
Favourite Book:
Favourite Band/Musician:
Other Interests:
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Jodee Mayer
LiRFAbout Jodee Mayer
WRC Member Since:
Jan 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, 37.51 miles at the Suffolk Backyard Ultra 2020
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, but she might be replaced soon by Alice Hector.
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:
LiRF
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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Max Leech
LiRFAbout Max Leech
WRC Member Since:
2019
WRC Coach Since:
2020
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
Half Marathon
Best Running Performance:
2009 Watford Half Marathon. PB of 1hr 58…my first ever organised race and I’ve never beaten that time!
Proudest Running Moment:
My first London Marathon in 2009. I loved it so much.
Favourite Runner(s):
Mo Farah
Favourite Session to Run:
Park Life, it reminds me of long summer days.
Long Term Running Goals:
To get a Marathon PB.
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
How Long Have you been coaching:
Since 2020
Why did you become a coach?:
WRC was the first club I’ve ever run with and I fell in love with it straight away. I wanted to be a part of the community as much as possible.
Best Coaching Advice:
Comparison is the thief of Joy! Don’t pit yourself against other people, run for YOU.
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
Good Will Hunting
Favourite Book:
The Thorn Birds
Favourite Band/Musician:
Pink
Favourite Food:
Italian. I’m all about the carbs!
Other Interests:
Travelling. I can’t wait to travel again!
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James Montgomery
LiRFAbout James Montgomery
WRC Member Since:
WRC Coach Since:
Running Profile
Favourite Race (type/distance/event):
Best Running Performance:
Proudest Running Moment:
Favourite Runner(s):
Favourite Session to Run:
Long Term Running Goals:
Coaching Profile
Qualifications:
How Long Have you been coaching:
Why did you become a coach?:
Coaching Influences:
Best Coaching Advice:
Favourite Session to Coach:
Other Stuff
Favourite Film(s):
Favourite Book:
Favourite Band/Musician:
Other Interests: