Meet Our Team Captains
Tony Page – Men’s Team Captain.
I have been a member since 2018, and from 2011 and 2014. As a club, we have our share of marathon runners and like many others I joined to get in shape for the London Marathon, in my case in 2018 (the hot one!) and haven’t looked back.
I have done several marathons since then and achieved my goal of running a sub-3-hour marathon, at the London Marathon. Every year we have a big contingent at London, including at the championship start and always have brilliant support thanks to our marshals at the Tower.
As a runner, I’m a bit of all-rounder, and have had success on road and track, short and longer distances. But for pure enjoyment I love trail running! I love to race and it’s been amazing winning races for the first time and also achieving high placings nationally in my age group at 10K and half marathon distances, racing on the track at the summer Vet’s athletic league and for the team in the Hampshire and TVXC leagues. There’s such a variety of things to get involved in at Reading Roadrunners and excellent coaches and track facilities at Palmer Park.
My goals are to run sub 2.50 at the marathon (in Boston this year) and be nationally competitive in my age group at the half marathon and aspire to emulate others at the club who have earned an England vest. But most all to continue to enjoy my running and as captain to support members to achieve their own personal goals and recognise the achievements of those trying the hardest and improving the most as much as those with the fastest times.
As Men’s captain, I want to increase participation in local, regional and national races, in part through the successful re-launch of our club championship. Secondly, I want to continue to promote running and volunteering at team events, as this brings out the best in us as a club. Lastly success is important, so we want to win TVXC and the Ridgeway Relay, improve our position in the Hampshire league XC and qualify teams for the national road relay championships.
Liz Johnson – Women’s Team Captain
A relative latecomer to running (I was 36) I like to think that if I can do it, anyone can! I still can’t believe sometimes that the girl who thought she didn’t have an athletic bone in her body, went from couch to marathon (and everything in between) in a year and is now training for an ultra.
I have been a member of Reading Roadrunners since 2017 and I can honestly say that I don’t think I would have achieved what I have without the support of the wonderful band of volunteer coaches, fellow team mates and all who make the running of the club a success. Wearing the green vest at the start line is always such a buzz as are the ‘come on Reading’ cheers as I make my way round the course. I truly believe that Reading Roadrunners are known across the globe and I can’t wait to get back out there.
Running has given me so much that I feel it’s only right that I try to do my bit to give something back to the wonderful community that has welcomed me so much. I volunteer at parkrun (I am an excellent ‘token support’), I am a qualified LiRF, I was RR social sec, and now I am very proud to say that I am the Women’s Team Captain.
I want to get as many of the women in our club involved in events as I can. As a club we participate in such a wide range of events that there should be something for everyone! Even if you don’t think something is for you, please give it a go. The worst that can happen is that you might have wasted a morning where you could have been doing something else, but on the flip side, you could have just discovered a whole new passion! Never in my life did I think I would run a xc race again after schoolday nightmares of royal blue gym pants and knee deep mud but yep, you’ve guessed it, that’s twice now I’ve found myself standing alongside my team mates at the bottom of Parliament Hill contemplating my life choices. Nothing ventured, right?!
The team spirit and camaraderie amongst the women in our club is amazing and really is a great example of women supporting women. Everyone is so welcome and I want to carry on the great work Sam has done over the past four years to grow women’s participation across all events and age categories and bring out the best in our runners. Unfortunately I can’t claim that my baking skills will match Sam’s, but I’ll give it a good go.
Both of our Team Captains can be contacted on teamcaptains@readingroadrunners.org