I have been with Gade Valley Harriers since 2019 and joined as a relatively inexperienced runner. Since I have joined, I have run 6 Marathons and 4 Ultra Marathons, including Race to the Stones 100km. Gade Valley Harriers has helped me massively improve as a runner, become healthier and has a great inclusive community feel about it. In my role as secretary, I’m very happy to be contributing to continued success of the club and helping its runners achieve their goals.

I joined GVH after completing the ‘Learn to Run’ course in 2017 when my goal was to complete a Parkrun. Since then the club has supported me in running a variety of races including my first Marathon in 2020 and a Trail Ultra Marathon in 2022.

Whatever your pace, the social side of running with GVH is fantastic and you will see me at the club most Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I also enjoy participating in cross country and local club league races. Seeing runners achieving their goals and smashing their PBs at these events is incredible. I am very proud to be celebrating these achievements in my role as Women’s Captain.

Back in 2008 I joined Gade Valley Harriers as a slightly overweight middle aged man, who’d done a bit of running as a boy and now wanted to take it seriously again. The club gave me just the boost I needed and I soon started enjoying racing in club colours, taking on cross country fixtures, 10ks, half marathon and ultimately marathons. I loved the training environment and the esprit de corps of the changing room and so soon realised I wanted to give back to the club and take a more active part in it. So in 2013 I started to train as a Coach and since then have been responsible for the torture inflicted on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Always looking for new challenges, I designed our popular Learn to Run course, our annual Sports Day and also got the club’s competitive juices flowing by starting the Club League. I like nothing more to see runners getting PBs and achieving their goals and I am very proud to be a part of GVH.

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Ed is qualified as an England Athletics Coach (Endurance)

I joined GVH in 2014. After being persuaded by a friend to run my first 10k, I wanted to improve and learn how to train properly. The first thing I felt was the amazing camaraderie amongst the team. Since then I have run 5 marathons (never thought I’d even run one!), many half marathons, 10ks, parkruns, cross-country and completed several triathlons. I am a qualified England Athletics Coaching Assistant and have a Level 2 safeguarding qualification.  I am immensely proud to be part of a team of amazing women who inspire each other to reach their full potential. Seeing them train well and then go on to smash their personal bests is immensely satisfying. The social side of our club is equally fantastic and I’m very proud to be part of such a supportive, passionate team.

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Hi, I’m Ines –  a spirited woman in her early forties, who has transformed her life through the joy of running. Despite starting this invigorating pursuit after the birth of my three children, I continuously strive to better myself. My journey began modestly – I graduated from a “Learn to Run” programme in 2019 which was hosted by Gade Valley Harriers, it was a milestone that marked a huge personal achievement. Since then running has blossomed into a passion that resonates with both my personal and professional goals. What began as a casual exercise to improve fitness soon transformed into a long-distance running adventure that exhilarates me every day.  Now, as a dedicated running assistant coach, I lead the school’s running club where I work helping children, aged 8 to 11, find the same passion for running I have. I love cheering on young (and old!) athletes as they conquer each lap with determination. I would like to say that I embrace my role as a lifelong learner, constantly expanding my running knowledge and techniques. Whether it’s participating in workshops or discovering new running trails, I believe that learning never stops. I’m dedicated to both my own development and that of my young runners as well as club members maintaining that it’s never too late to pursue your passions.

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Michelle is a qualified Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF)

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Anthnoy is a qualified Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF)

Andy was one of the earliest club members, first coming to the club in April 1991,  the month after it was formed.  He served as Men’s Captain from 2007-2010 and again in 2011-2013, before becoming Chair from 2013-2018.  Over the years he has been instrumental in recording the results of club members, which date back to 2000 and was the key driver to bring GVH into the digital age, moving us to an online membership database and setting up our first website.  He is a source of knowledge of all things GVH, as well as being an ardent ‘Baggies’ supporter.

Andy was awarded lifetime membership in 2018 for services to the club following stepping down as Chair.

Ed joined the club in 2008 and quickly established himself as a popular member and one of our best runners. He became Men’s Captain in 2013 and has been instrumental in establishing and driving forward the group structure, training regime and inclusivity that we had been striving to evolve for a few years, but it was Ed’s energy that saw us finally achieve this and push us onto a new level as a club.

In 2017 GVH created the role of Head Coach specifically for Ed to further this vision and among his many credits are creating and driving our Learn to Run course, our Club League and a new Annual Sports Day which involved everyone in the club and their Families. His enthusiasm, his attention to detail and continual support of runners of every ability with training schedules and expert advice has undoubtedly been a core factor of why the the club is what it is today.

Ed was awarded lifetime membership for outstanding services to the club at the 2023 AGM.