Sandbach Striders

I started running in February 2012, (Mid life crisis!!) I had never ran before, but slowly over a few month managed 5k runs on a regular basis but was getting bored of running on my own and with darker nights drawing in look for a Club to join. I tried a couple of local clubs but they were not for me but then I found out about Sandbach Striders. I joined the club later that year, it’s the best thing I ever did.

This is a great club, no matter how fast or slow you are, you are always welcome. I have received so much support over the last few years which has allowed me to achieve much more than I would of hoped for at the beginning of my running journey. There have been many highlights for me thanks to the club members support, London Marathon being one of them last year.

We hold many social events at the club, some involve running, some involve eating and drinking and some have over the years involved all 3!! (Medoc marathon). We also have an annual camping trip and Awards night.

This is such a friendly club, new members will receive a warm welcome, if like me you have been thinking about joining a club for a while but don’t think your good enough, go on take to plunge and come a join us, you won’t regret it !!!

I have been running since the age of 11 having accidentally qualified for the school cross country team. I kept up running for 29 years with the occasional break for beer, exams and ankle injuries.

I have been a Striders member for about 11 years and have competed all distances from 5k up to ultra marathon.

I rejoined the committee in 2024 to coordinate club training and coaching.

I started running in 2021 having decided to try and become a healthier 30 something year old - very cliched I know! In 2022 I decided to join Sandbach Striders to step up my training and become a more social runner.

I can regularly be seen at Congleton parkrun as well as attempting to play football and keep generally active. I joined the Striders committee as Secretary in 2024 and look forward to helping around the club.

I have been running since I left University & joined the Club shorty after moving to Sandbach. I originally started to keep fit but since then running has taken me to so many places that it’s just become a part of my life.

I particularly enjoy discovering new areas on foot & realising how much more of places you can see when exploring on a run. Any holiday or business trip is another opportunity to explore somewhere new.

Over the years when I’ve lost my motivation or busy with other life priorities the Club is always there & I always try to attend on a Wednesday to keep ticking over & catch up with my fellow runners.

I rejoined the committee in 2023 re-taking on the role of Treasurer.

I took up running to keep fit and race but now use it as a reason to get out into the countryside. I am a regular at local parkrun events but always try to find an event to push myself out of my comfort zone.

I joined Sandbach Striders as a way to help me focus my training leading up to the London Marathon but stayed as I met a great bunch of welcoming and friendly people. I get great satisfaction of helping others find the benefit in sport and I feel so lucky to have this club on my doorstep.

I joined Sandbach Striders in 2017 and have been a regular ever since! Having run individually for a number of years beforehand, I was looking to join a club to make new friends and meet other runners locally and that’s exactly what Sandbach Striders gave me.

I run mainly for personal fitness and I regularly take part in my local park run, however I’ve also completed a few 10k’s, half marathons and the London Marathon in 2016 (definitely my best running achievement so far – still to be repeated!).

I joined the club committee as welfare officer in 2023 and my role, alongside the rest of committee, is to ensure all our members feel welcome, supported and encouraged in their running. We are a really friendly club, which welcomes runners of all abilities and celebrate everyone’s achievements equally.

In 2017 I was introduced to Sandbach Striders by one of our club members and have never looked back. I had recently moved to Sandbach from the north east and was looking for another running club (having been a member of a north east club for several years).

My first impression of Striders was the friendly atmosphere and I have to say the warm welcome given to me. I have taken part in a number of races from 5k to marathons, half marathons being my favourite.

I’ve just taken on the role of Committee Social Secretary and look forward to getting involved in the social schedule planned.

I have been running for nearly a decade now, starting with a charity run that raised funds for Alder Hey Children's Hospital with my former co-workers. I remember dreading this at the time, having never ran in my life. The positive impact of running on my well-being truly amazed me, and I have never looked back. I have run 3 or 4 times a week ever since. I started to feel bored with my usual routes and a friend suggested joining Sandbach Striders running club, one of the best decisions I ever made was to come along and give it a try.

My running journey has taken me through various distances, up to a marathon, and my passion lies in promoting running to others for mental health benefits. I participated in the Great North Run last year in support of OCD-UK and I plan to make it an annual commitment. I have experience in designing logos and printing garments, so it felt right to forward myself as the new kit officer. I am excited to contribute to our club by managing the kit and giving back to the club in everyway that I can.