Discover Whitby Running Club
Whitby Running Club
Established in 2019 we are a community running club
We offer a safe and friendly environment to inspire all abilities. Our club is affiliated to England Athletics.
Meet the Committee
Our committee help organise and administrate all the club business, from running events to managing memberships and ensuring a welcoming environment for all members. Each member brings a wealth of experience and passion, working collectively to enhance the club’s activities and initiatives. Together, we strive to create an enjoyable and enriching environment for every runner in the club.
We are pleased to introduce Our Committee Members for 2025/26, who are dedicated to promoting the love of running and fostering a supportive community.
Janine Pemberton
Club Chair
After realising that running solo on and off for twenty years wasn’t working for me I joined the Club after being encouraged by a current member, a friend.
I’ve been part of the committee for four years, this year as Chair. My role includes ensuring that the Club constitution is upheld, that the Club is seen as a welcoming and inclusive community group, and one that listens to its members. With the other committee members we work to identify ways the club can enhance its communication, and its offerings so that the Club will continue to develop and grow.
Craig Hoos
Vice Chair & Social Secretary
When we moved to Whitby , joining the running club was one of the first things I did . It’s proved to be a great day to meet new people and make new friends. I regularly run and volunteer at The cinder Track parkrun.
My roles on the committee as social secretary and vice chairman allow me to support the club and my fellow runners in its continued push to be a fun, safe and inclusive place to run and make friends.
Ruth Price
Treasurer
I am a founder member of Whitby Running Club (2019) and Treasurer for the club, which means that I look after our bank account and can release funds where/when we need them.
I didn’t start running regularly until I was in my early fifties and I met some lovely people which kept me coming back for more. I enjoyed the support and encouragement from fellow runners and learned that it’s ok to be slow, that it’s not always about maximising speed/distance, and that running with a group can be a fun way of trying to keep fit.
Sally Dixon
Club Secretary
I moved up to Whitby in April 2023. I had already looked up Whitby Running Club and joined almost straightaway.
I have been running on my own on and off for around 25 years. I love running with the club, exploring new routes and chatting to different people. I always try to get to one club session each week. I find the group very encouraging but there is no pressure to do anything too hard!
I am Secretary for the committee, so I send out agendas and take minutes at the 4-6 meetings each year.
I am proud to run in my club shirt and love taking part in the running and the social side of the club.
Sarah Marshall
Membership Secretary
I joined the club in 2023 after getting to know many of the club members at The Cinder Track parkrun where I’m a volunteer run director.
I’m currently Membership Secretary for the club which means I welcome new members, ensuring they are registered with England Athletics. I also coordinate the annual membership renewals and the allocation of any London Marathon entry which the club may be awarded.
Joanna Powell Lans
Run Leader Co-Ordinator
I’m a run leader and the run leader co-ordinator for Whitby Running Club. My role as co-ordinator basically is to sort out the rota for the leaders for each session
I’ve been a member at the club since 2019 shortly after moving here, it’s enabled me to meet and make friends with others, enjoy running in a group and discover wonderful routes in our area.
Matt Hewison
Club Welfare
I founded the Club in 2019. My current roles at the Club are one of the Club Welfare Officers, an England Athletics Mental Health Champion and I’m also a England Athletics Run Leader.
I’m also on the Club Committee as the Local Authority representative through my role as the Head of Sport and Active Wellbeing (Development) at North Yorkshire Council. My main responsibilities are ensuring compliance, establishing robust policies and procedures for welfare and monitoring the reporting element.
Katie Hunter
Club Welfare
As part of my role as welfare officer at the club, I have completed safeguarding courses, and both adult and child-specific welfare courses. I play a key role in ensuring club members have a safe and positive experience at all times.
I joined the club in 2024, although I have not been a member for long the club is so welcoming that I quickly fitted in and feel at home running with a great group of people on a weekly basis.
Our Run Leaders
We have seven England Athletics Qualified Run Leaders who all hold the 'Leadership in Running Fitness' qualification, which includes: a first aid qualification, and an up to date DBS. All run leaders offer a friendly, hour long session suitable for all abilities we all run together. Meet them here:
Joanna Powell Lans
I started running 23 years ago following a particularly difficult time in my life, at first I didn’t enjoy it, but I soon realised that it was having a very positive impact on my mental wellbeing. In 2004 I was encouraged by friends to enter the Great North Run, I’ve missed 3 since then and it’s become my favourite run.
Matt Hewison
It’s great that the Club has sustained and developed and is a platform for people to move and improve their physical, social and mental wellbeing. I’m also the volunteer Event Director at The Cinder Track parkrun, Whitby.
Janine Pemberton
Being a run leader is a really fulfilling role. You get to support and motivate members with their running journey. It’s rewarding to see members improve their fitness, get stronger physically and mentally. And most of all I get to run with a great group of runners, now all friends.
Nick Grimshaw
I have been a member of the club for the last five years and am one of the regular Run leaders. I have been running regularly for over 20 years now and love the benefits running brings to ones health, well being and friendship networks.
Ruth Price
I qualified as a run leader the week before we went into lockdown in 2020 so didn’t actively start leading until 2021.
In addition to run leading, I have ran the club’s Couch to 5K programme for the last 3 years as I think it’s important to show that we are accessible to all (would be) runners. I’ve met loads of really great people through running, and it’s the people rather than the sport that keeps me motivated.
Craig Hoos
I have recently completed my run leader training so I can share my enthusiasm for running and well being within the club allowing more organised club runs to be made available.
Darren Marshall
I joined the Club in 2023 and have never looked back. The discipline of attending at least one of the two weekly run evenings provides a focus and enables me to enjoy a run and social catch up at the same time.
Moreover, the personal enjoyment I get from the Club has enthused me to become a Run Leader.
Testimonials
Below are some testimonials from our Club Members, sharing their experiences and personal journeys within our Running Club. Their feedback showcases the welcoming atmosphere, the sense of community, and the motivation they’ve found through our group runs and events. We are proud to support each other in achieving our running goals and creating lasting friendships along the way.
Starting running in my late fifties has been a surprising and joyful journey. Initially signing up for the C25K and being very unsure about my capabilities, I found a very supportive group of people and well structured approach to running. Meeting the 5K goal was such a sense of achievement and the support of run leaders and new found friends gave me the confidence to join WRC fully. Everyone is incredibly encouraging and supportive and runs at their own levels. I have made new friends and look forward to the weekly sessions as well as excellent social events. A younger me would be amazed at what I now do and love!
Rachel Scholey
As of Oct 2025 not yet moved to Whitby but been a member for over 6 months. But whenever I have visited I have been made very welcome. Can't wait to move permanently.
Andrew Rayner
I joined the club as my curiosity grew towards running in 2022 and ended up getting a club place for London Marathon in 2023, since then I got hooked.
Rosnita Fenesia
I sometimes feel low, so running with the club is my medicine. It also means I can eat ice cream guilt free!
Harry Pemberton
I'm not very social naturally so joined when I moved to Whitby I joined to help me make connections. I know more people in Whitby after 4 years here than I knew where I previously lived after 20 years, and the running club has been a significant part of that. Plus, I like running...
Paul De St Paer
Since having my son in 2017, I found running was a way of getting some headspace. I did a couple of half marathons and then really lost my confidence after a bad run. My mental health suffered as I found running alone a challenge.
In 2023 I plucked up the courage to speak to Whitby Running Club at their Regatta Fun Run. And I haven’t looked back since.
They really are the best bunch of people. No pressure to run at a particular pace, great support and fabulous company. Lovely routes and friendly faces, just what I needed.
Thank you WRC!
Becci Hodgson