Member of the Month

Alex says: “I stumbled across Harriers (and running really) after a chance conversation with another member in the pub. I was bemoaning the fact that I didn't really know that many people in the area and they mentioned that the club was a great way to meet people. I'd been wanting to improve my fitness level, too, so this seemed like an ideal opportunity. I took the plunge and popped along for a couple of trial runs back in October.

Everyone was so encouraging and welcoming that I signed up almost immediately and have been a regular at training sessions ever since. I love getting out and running with the club and usually can't wait to get home from work so I can put my running shoes on and head down to a training session. The sense of achievement and wellbeing boost after a good run can't be beaten. I'm looking forward to entering a few races and am excited to see what achievements the rest of 2025 brings for us all. Go Harriers!”

Margaret says: I've been involved with Harriers for 40 years supporting Alan doing cross countries and loads of road races. I've always kept fit, I trained in ballet and tap and was a professional dancer in the 60’s doing two Pantomime seasons, Coventry and the Alhambra, Bradford and two summer seasons at Butlins.

I did my first race in 2006, The Race for Life, in Thirsk. Shortly afterwards Rob started core stability sessions on Mondays and I joined the club. My next race was The World Masters Mountain Championships wearing a GB vest in Slovakia in 2017! 10 of us were going and I was the odd one out, so on the last day of registration I thought if you can’t beat them, join them. I've competed in them most years since. In 2022 we were at Clonmel, Tipperary and I was proud to win an individual silver medal and gold Team. The following year, in Madeira I again won an individual silver medal. I've also been lucky to win some club awards over the years.

I really enjoy the cross country season and love running in the hills on a Saturday with Alan, Ken and Geoff. Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers are a really friendly club and encourage every ability, I hope I will be able to run for many years to come.

Charlie says:
I only joined the Harriers at the beginning of December so I was very surprised to be member of the month. I have jogged and sometimes run mostly on my own for about 12 years. In hindsight I should have joined years ago. As one of the many friendly faces has said, it is like a social club with some running included. 

Thank you all for being so welcoming and for the generous voucher. Thank you too to the coaches and organisers who put in their time so enthusiastically. Best wishes to everyone for 2025. I am hoping that I can learn to run faster and enjoy it at the same time.

I am currently the race director of Sessay Swift, organise the monthly time trials, lead the Hill rep Friday session and am a leader in running.

I thoroughly enjoy Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers and love inputting my time into the club.  We have a great club!

Having been a member from 2000- 2008, I returned to the club in 2020 to find a completely different and more inclusive organisation that encourages people of all ages and abilities. While I sometimes struggle with motivation due to being frustrated with my aging and ailing body I still feel encouraged to take part even if I am now more likely to be at the back of the pack!

I do not particularly enjoy parkruns as they serve to remind me of what I could have done but now am no longer able to do . However I find it fun to be part of TaSH, which contains a lot of great characters as well as talented runners.

As my old coach in the seventies said “keep smiling” and of course keep on running or in my case “shuffling”!!

Due to ill health, she had to give up running for a couple of years (2020 – 2022). This is when she started coaching for the club. In 2023 she started to slowly incorporate exercise again, and this year, she is steadily starting her comeback. “I'm not able to run a sub 20 5k like I used to, but give me another year and I might be there!”

She adds, “huge thank you to Harriers for being such a supportive family.”

However, I now love doing as many races as possible, from road 5k’s to trail marathons, and get very competitive!