All our leaders are qualified as England Athletics Leaders in Running and Fitness and are DBS checked. The leaders plan and lead each running session, using a range of techniques to help you maximise your running fitness in an enjoyable way. The leaders have a wealth of race experience ranging from 5k’s at weekly parkruns to marathons and Ironman events. Please ask any of the leaders if you require any specific advice about your training.
Find out who our current leaders are and a bit more about them;
Kathy Davis (Weymouth):
I started running in 2001. I’d never been a runner, preferring to go to exercise classes instead, however a change of jobs meant a long commute and I couldn’t get back in time for the classes I loved. Several people I worked with ran at lunchtimes and they persuaded me to join them.
I changed jobs at the end of 2001, found a local group of Women’s Running Network in 2002 and became a leader in 2003 as the group leader retired due to recurring injuries. I’ve been here ever since and was one of the founder members of Dorset Sole Sisters.
I’m never going to be a speedy runner but I love the buzz of races and events. I’ve been lucky enough to run London marathon twice. I was always the person who would watch it on tv but never in my wildest dreams did I believe I would ever run it. I’ve also taken part in a 24 hour relay which is challenging and one of the most memorable events has to Bacchus half marathon with wine stops every 2 – 3 miles.
Louise Tarrant (Dorchester):
Beccy Cardiff (Weymouth):
Apart from doing ‘Race for Life’ a couple of times I started running properly in 2007 with the Women’s Running Network as it was then, I started with the beginners group and slowly built up and did my first 10k race in the April and half-marathon in the September in Amsterdam with other ladies from the club. I quickly learnt to love running and was lucky enough to run the London Marathon in 2008 for charity which was amazing!
The club changed to Dorset Sole Sisters and I became a leader to give back some of what the club had given me.
Some of my favourite events include doing the Giants Head marathon, a hilly off-road marathon, the Bacchus half-marathon in Kent which had ‘wine aid stations’ and a party at the end and various White Star Running fancy dress runs.
Debbie Evans (Weymouth):
I got back into running after a friend of mine suggested it in 2013. Around 35 years prior to that, I used to represent my school in cross country.
I became a leader in 2018 after Louise suggested that I would be good leader, a compliment from a great leader!
For 5 years I ran in the dirty devil stampede, the last 3 years roping my brother in. Although this scares me every year and I have said it would be the last, I feel that it’s good to get out of your comfort zone. It’s held in January at Bovington Camp and you run over the tank training ground. Sometimes there is ice on the puddles we need to run through, the water is always freezing cold, there’s generally hills (knife edge has to be run twice), mud, puddles which can’t be avoided, fancy dress which is standard and the cargo net which again has to be scrambled under twice. That said, it’s always a lot of fun and not a run to do if you’re looking for a pb or want to stay warm, clean and dry.
Sharon Pugh (Dorchester):
Running for me has evolved over the years. I started running in 2010 and competing in a race seemed insane, impractical and altogether impossible. Yet one year later I completed the Bournemouth Bay half marathon.
Through running I realised that getting outdoors in the open air gave me time to get lost in my thoughts, a form of therapy, to reflect and clear my head.
Becoming a leader now means I have an opportunity to give back to the club members my enthusiasm for running.
Sarah Irons (Weymouth):
I have been a Sole Sister leader since 2016 but ran with the club for several years before this. My neighbour Gill introduced me to the club and reassured me that I wouldn’t get left behind.
I have always enjoyed sport and ran for my university last century (but never more than 200m and 5k runs were an ordeal for training purposes)!
I don’t really enjoy competing in races and get easily bored so a sprint triathlon is the only event I have done as I enjoy the mixture of sports. It was also the justification for buying a nice bike.
Running for me is about the freedom of being outside, trying to keep fit and having a pleasant social time.
Cheryl Heard (Weymouth):
I spent many years being a couch potato, over weight and not doing any exercise at all. I went to work, came home, ate and went to bed every day. Then I decided to get up and get out there. Many people I knew had done it so I decided I’d give it a go. I downloaded the app, bought some cheap running gear and off I went. At first it was so hard and I begged the person in my ear to stop but I didn’t. I kept going and going and to my surprise I had completed the whole 5k. I started doing park run and met other people like me then a friend said I should join Dorset sole sisters. I thought that would be too much and I wouldn’t be able to keep up with them. How wrong was I. Being with the sole sisters is great. So many different people with different abilities and stories to be heard. I entered races and have now done many half marathons and 3 marathons that I am so proud of. Each time I run I find it hard but enjoyable, tiring and fulfilling. If I need to clear my mind I run. If I feel low I drag myself out and guaranteed that once complete I feel so much better and glad I took the time out to run. It doesn’t matter how far you go. Just get out there and do something for you because that’s what I did and still do. It’s amazing where running can take you.