Our welfare reps are here to ensure club is a safe, inclusive and happy place for members! They are regular attenders at club sessions and are around to have a chat or listen to any concerns you may have. Let’s meet them:
Jess
Usual running group: 4
Your running journey: For the first 20 years of my life, I thought running should be something that’s undertaken only in extenuating circumstances, such as the bus beating you to a bus stop. Thanks to the ‘run 5, tag 5, donate 5’ challenge during the pandemic, I realised that it can be tolerable, sometimes even enjoyable. Fast forward 5 years… I now listen to The Running Channel Podcast for fun and occasionally say things like ‘let’s jog the recoveries, it’s good for us’.
Why are you a welfare rep for the club: I have found TBH to be incredibly inclusive and friendly, and I’d like that to continue in the future. It’s a great space for people to socialise and have fun, and its wonderful to be part of the team that can help that happen.
Best running distance: anything that involves minimal effort and maximum chatting.
Pre and post-race fuel: (Good) bread and (good) butter before a run, pretty much anything in large quantities after a run.
Happiest running memory: Langdale Half Marathon or Yorkshire 3 Peaks. Any race where you see a hill and think ‘great, time to walk’ is a win in my books. Plus I was lucky enough to have lovely company and weather on both occasions.
Biggest running inspiration: I find the concept of an influencer running and filming with their phone on a stick baffling, so I think my biggest inspiration is people at the club! It’s so nice to run with such a wonderful group of people, who turn up and work incredibly hard week in, week out.
Also, anyone who runs with a buggy, especially the ones who overtake me in Parkrun.
Best thing about being a member of TBH: I can officially categorise myself as a ‘runner’, which is apparently quite a cool thing to be in 2025. And leading Group 4 is one of my absolute favourite parts of the week, every week. Oh, and I met some of my best friends through TBH!
Favourite things to do outside of running: The gym (often preceded by at least 20 minutes of calculating how to fit leg day into the week whilst avoiding the dreaded DOMS at club), ballet, hiking, pretty much anything that involves a nice chat.
Sammie
Usual running group: 4
Your running journey: I was encouraged along to a Parkrun by colleagues and haven’t looked back! I ended up helping to set up a Parkrun when I lived in the US and it was a great way to meet people. I really got into distance running after completing the Medoc Marathon 
(in full fancy dress of course) and realizing that the course measured several km over a marathon distance, so I’d basically done an ultra without meaning to after which there was no excuse not to do another. It was definitely the course, not me weaving around after sampling all the wine stops I promise.
Why are you a welfare rep for the club: I joined the club shortly after I moved to Newcastle when I didn’t really know anyone in the city, now I can’t go out without bumping into one of you all. So it’s nice to give something back and make sure everyone has as positive an experience as possible as I know how important running is to us all for both physical and mental health.
Best running distance: Any with nice hills and trails 
Pre and post-race fuel: A banana half an hour before starting, and everything I can find afterwards
Happiest running memory: Has to be seeing all the TBH crew out on the street in Palma to cheer me on when I was the only one silly enough to do the marathon distance 
Who is your biggest running inspiration (and why): Jasmin Paris as she somehow does everything but is still really humble and nice. She convinced me to join the Green Runners (look it up)!
Best thing about being a member of TBH: The Disney round at the club quiz night. Also having people to come on crazy running adventures. There’s still time for a 2nd TBH Team to enter the Cowshed Backyard Ultra…
Favourite things to do outside of running: Spending time with Pingo my rescue dog, although we do often go running!
Hui
Usual running group: 1 and 2
Your running journey: I always loved sport. I joined the club in 2013 and was so unfit after 3 years of university – living an unhealthy (but very fun) life. I got fit again, made loads of new friends and a whole new social circle that now feels a bit of a family. Oh yeah, and I met my wife at the club 
Why are you a welfare rep for the club: To be a point of contact for anyone at the club, and support for people who are struggling or have any concerns.
Best running distance: On paper it’s probably my half marathon. But my favourite to run is 10km.
Pre and post-race fuel: Pot noodle pre, fish and chips post.
Happiest running memory: Just the whole of 2023, PBs galore that year.
Who is your biggest running inspiration (and why): It varies. Currently I would say it has to be Leodhais for doing his challenge – all around great lad and proper inspiring.
Best thing about being a member of TBH: The camaraderie and eclectic bunch of people. All walks of life are represented at the club.
Favourite things to do outside of running: Playing football, watching football (any league) and coaching Juniours football at Gosforth Bohemians.
No responses yet