A native of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, now living in Ramsgate where he works as a Process Operator. He took up running 5 years ago to stay fit. Now runs up to 4 hours a week alongside cycling and swimming. Best road times, all achieved in 2005, include 31.25 (5 mls), 41.12 (10K), 65.38 (10 Mls) and 89.48 (Half Mthn). Particularly enjoyed the Paris Marathon, which he ran in 3.11.25, a pb by 20 minutes. For 2006, he is hoping for a good Flora London Marathon and pbs at all distances.

 

 

A Dental Nurse aged 37, lives in Five Oak Green. Having run in the gym for a few month, entered the Mote Park Race for Life in 2003 and surprised herself, so began running with husband Peter in Tonbridge Park. Thus graduated to running with Paddock Wood AC in July 2004. Does most of her training in the gym, runs two evenings a week with PWAC and fits in a long run at the weekend. Best road times to date include 46.18 (10K), 75.09 (10 mls), 1.43.22 (HMthn), 3.53.32 (Mthn). Had a purple patch in May 2005 when she almost cracked 3 pbs in one weekend. Biggest disappointment was last September's Thanet Marathon when heading for 3.45 on a hot day at 9 miles "I had a negative demon telling me to stop and I had to carry him to the finish line." Now hoping to run at least two marathons in 2006 and break that 3.45 barrier.

Born in Bath and now lives in Margate. She is 25 and works as a Project Administrator. Having run at school and achieved a best 1500 metres of 5.27, she only took up the sport again 8 months ago to train for the Race for Life, inspired by the exploits of Kelly Holmes and Paula Radcliffe. She finished 5 th out of 1500 women, raised £700 for Cancer Research. Puts in up to 3 hours a week running, along with "fitness dancing". In venturing onto the roads, has managed 36 minutes for 5 miles, 79 minutes for 10 miles and 1.55 for Half Marathon. Disappointed that she didn't continue running after school and also missed the opportunity of running a cross country in Hartsdown Park where she competed as a girl. Now hopes to increase her running medal collection in 2006 and come first in the next Race for Life.

 

A carpenter from London approaching veteran status. Having previously been a track runner in the 1980's (with a 1500m best of 4.11) he returned to running four years ago when "I got very unfit and overweight and decided to do something about it." Now runs up to 5 hours per week and enjoys both road and cross country. Has a half marathon best time of 1.35.40 and was New Eltham Cross Country champion in 2004/05. Hopes to run a marathon in 2006 and "get down to the club more often."

 

A Local Government Officer living in Doddington, now in his late forties. He was born in Gillingham and is the brother of Joanne Murphy, also a Strider. Having done some running at school, came back just three years ago after "hanging up my football boots and my badminton racquet needed restringing". Runs around 2 hours a week and cycles around one hour. Ran a 5.15 1500 metres 30 years ago while at school. Recent road bests include 40.50 (10 Km), 1.34.04 (Half Mthn) and 4.11.59 (Mthn). Completed the Beachy Head Marathon in 2004 - his best achievement to date. Biggest disappointment was getting injured last winter and missing the last 4 KF league races. His future aims - "to beat as many Sittingbourne Striders as possible in all events !"

Late 40's, living in Canterbury but hails from Middlesbrough. A partner in a firm making outdoor play equipment. Only took up competitive running within the last year to keep fit. Graduated from doing short runs with husband to joining Canterbury Harriers and taking part in the Race for Life. Now runs 3 to 4 hours per week which she combines with fitness classes and pilates. Already notched up a 46.38 10K at Faversham and 73.38 in the Thanet 10 miles. Was part of the winning Canterbury Harriers o45 team in the inter club relays. Now hoping to improve, to keep free of injuries, to get under 45 minutes at 10K with a target of running a full marathon before she hits the half century.

Born in Caterham, Surrey some 40-odd years ago. Now living in Caterham and is a qualified Civil Engineer. Having been a keen cyclist since the age of 12 (she still turns out for a Saturday morning ride each week with San Fairy Ann) she was encouraged to take up running by Dave Hattersley of Maidstone Harriers 4 years ago. Now runs up to 3 hours a week and particularly enjoys cross country. Best road times are 44.45 for 10K, 73.43 for 10 miles; 3.42.39 for marathon (all done in 2003). Best Half Marathon time is 1.42.32 done in 2004. Suffered a couple of injuries in 2003 which forced her to stop running for 4 months, but has gained a "good for age" qualification in the London Marathon for three years on the trot. Now hoping to continue injury-free, aiming for a 3.30 run in the 2006 London Marathon, "but will still be delighted with 3.35".

A 25 year-old Research Executive, living in Maidstone where he was born. Took up running less than three years ago having been persuaded to start by partner Nicola Susans, "who has never beaten me". Runs up to 5 hours per week encouraged by many of the Larkfield team including coaches Liz and Duncan Scott. Also plays football for Bearsted FC, squash and takes part in triathlons. Best times achieved already are 29.34 for 5 miles, 36.57 for 10K, 1.23.41 for Half Marathon (all during 2005). Completed the London Marathon during his first year of running in 3.39 ("I was injured and didn't do myself justice") and has completed the London Triathlon (Olympic distance) in 2.24. His immediate targets are to improve his triathlon times, get below 3 hours for a Marathon and aim for a few top 10 finishes in road and cross country events.

Aged mid 30's, born in Mbabane, Swaziland. She is a Science teacher in the Medway Towns. Brought up in South Africa where she started running as a 13 year old. "We used to get badges to sew on tracksuits after each race. My dad took me to races all over the area and my collection grew". Had a brother and a sister who also ran and they all were drawn into ultra events in time "always with the support of our folks". Runs up to 4 hours a week and has also competed in Kayak races, Adventure races and Mountain Biking events along with husband Kevin. Her training regime is "I run when it's not too cold !", but enjoys cross country in particular. Has best times of 40.00 for 10K and 1.26.27 for Half Marathon. One of her best achievements was completing the Comrades Marathon (60 miles) in 1997 which she did in under 8 hours. Biggest "disappointment" was the Chicago Marathon in 1999 where she recorded 3.00.12 - "how I could miss a sub 3 by seconds is down to lack of focus and self-belief when it mattered most." Her ambitions may be more modest now, but she still hopes for a 3.30 marathon in 2006 and hopes to help the Larks do well in the cross countries - "we're all having so much fun, usually after the races, though !"

The manager of the Norman Park Athletics Track in Bromley, Ken was born in Deptford 55 years back and now lives in Chislehurst. Took up running at the age of 20 when he entered the 400 metres race at the Ministry of Defence Sports Day "because I got a day off for competing". He won the race and found he had a leaning towards athletics - has been running ever since as (at various times) a member of Kent AC, Blackheath and Bromley, Vets AC and Bromley Vets. Primarily a middle distance track runner, he puts in over 6 hours of training per week. Ran some impressive times in his younger days - 51.7 (400), 1:57.3 (800), 3:57.3 (1500), 32.07 (10K road) and just as impressive as a veteran - 4:08.0 (1500) aged 43 and 4:18.6 aged 51 - the latter putting him high up in the world rankings during 2001. Sustained a broken ankle and torn ligaments early in 2005 which put paid to his prospects of a medal in the World Track Championships in Spain. Now the ankle is on the mend with reduced training, Ken is hoping to target the National 1500 metre title next summer, which he last won in 2001.

Originally from Southport, Lancashire and now living in Sutton-at-Hone, she is National Development Manager for the Womens Sports Foundation. Her dad was a county-level athlete and encouraged her to take up running aged 11/12. She was a County Champion over 200 and 400 metres for five years while a teenager, then turned to triathlons after college in which she represented Great Britain and is now a qualified coach. Cathy took a break from sport to have her two children and restarted running 3 years ago. Now puts in up to 6 hours a week running as well as coaching two evenings a week in Swanley. Best road times are 33.54 for 5 miles; 42.05 for 10K and 1.38 for Half Marathon all set in 2005. She regards finishing an Ironman-distance triathlon with a marathon time of 4.06 as her best achievement to date but finds "injury management" the most frustrating aspect of the sport. Now she hopes to keep injury free, defend her o35 title in the Kent Fitness League, run a 40 minute 10K and instil her love of sport into the minds of her son and daughter.

Aged mid 30's, born in Bromley and now living in Rochester - she is a CCTV controller at Greenwich Council. She took up running while at school, encouraged to enter the Mars London Mini Marathon by her PE teacher. On leaving school she tried road running and, with the encouragement of Jo Cleverly and the Joggers, was steered into cross country. Devotes around 4 hours a week to running and combines this with some yoga, swimming, cycling and walking which she has to fit around shift working. Best road times are currently 34.05 (5 M), 42.42 (10K) and 1.40.41 (Hmthn) and 4.21.19 which she achieved in the 1993 London Marathon. Best moment was in winning the London District TA Cross Country in 1994 when she was just a recruit. Biggest disaster occurred when she damaged a knee on a club run - she spent 9 months on crutches unable to walk and a total of 2 years away from running. Main aim is now to keep injury-free and get back to running 10K's in under 43 minutes.

Born in Barnehurst 23 years ago where he still lives - he is a Graphic Designer. Competed in most sports at school but, from the age of 8, realised "I could run for longer than any of my friends". Eased into competitive running at Hurstmere school where he was encouraged to join a running club. Greatly values the group coaching he received from Brian Fagg and Mervyn Waterman in the early days and still seeks their advice to this day. Primarily a track athlete, he devotes 3 hours per week to running which he currently combines with a little cycling and swimming. Best track times include 52.0 (400m) and 3.58.0 for 1500m. On the road he has managed 27.13 for 5 miles and 33.54 for 10K. As an under 20, he came 2 nd in the Southern 3000 metres champs and was selected to run for the South of England where he finished 3 rd in a "tactical" 1500 metres. After a great season in 2003, he picked up an achilles injury which kept him off running for over a year - "the worst year of my life". Although still troubled by the achilles, he is managing to train and race more seriously and is hoping for some pbs on the track in 2006.

Now aged 60+, a retired Lloyds Underwriter originally from Gravesend and now living in Sevenoaks. Ran at school in the relay team and has done some running ever since - becoming a racer during the boom of the 1980's and although held back during the 1990's with a string of injuries is now as keen and sharp as ever. Still has his first training schedule from the school sports master, but now plans his programme around Bruce Tulloh's book with wife June - "I do what June tells me to !" In addition to running, he is an indoor rower and was second in the British M60-64 lightweight category championships in 2005. Andrew has an impressive list of pbs as an MV60 including 5:18.8 (1500), 19:23.03 (5000) on the track; 19.35 (5K), 39.58 (10K), 67.27 (10ml) on the road. Cherished moment was winning the BMAF o55 10,000 metres at Barnet in 2002 - "it was 33 oC and I was one of the few to finish in 40:05.17". Main aim is now to beat 40 mins for 10K again, to have a good run in the 2006 European Masters T & F Champs in Poland and "to beat my friend Eddie Broad on the track !"

Hails from Canterbury and now lives in Whitstable. A renal technician in his early fifties. Having watched the first London Marathon in 1981, decided to train for the next one with his brother, in fact he completed both the London and Thanet Marathons within 2 weeks that year. Runs around 5 hours a week (including speed work with the club) and cycles occasionally. Enjoys cross country the most, but has some good road times - 34.59 for 10K; 58.47 for 10 miles and 1.18 for Half Marathon. Got his photo in Today's Runner Magazine in 1988 after winning one of the early cross countries at Canterbury. Biggest disappointment was never getting his marathon time below 2.45 (although he managed 2.54 in the 1990 London Marathon). Now just happy to enjoy the cross countries, to battle away with his rivals and to try and get back under 40 minutes for 10K.

 

A Neighbourhood Worker in Bexley, aged 58; born in Southwark. Encouraged to take up running by his children's Sports teacher and trained up to do the 1982 London Marathon with a friend who completed it in 1981. Tony runs up to 7 hours per week, mostly with a group, and also swims, puts in gym works, taichi and yoga. He is guided by Reg Wilson (friend and Mentor). Best times, all achieved as a vet, include 28.20 (5 mls), 34.57 (10K), 76.20 (HMthn) and 2.03 (20 mls). Cherished moment was running 2.48 in the 1993 London Marathon after 33 attempts to break 4 hours "and beating Seb Coe as a bonus". Disappointment was finishing the Reading Half Marathon in 72 minutes only to find the course was 600 metres short (following a bomb scare). He finished in the top 30 of over 5,000 runners and would have smashed his pb, but all to no avail. Future plan - just to enjoy running at his current level of fitness and stay injury-free.