Paul Carlisle – Club Vice Chair

I joined Great Bentley Running Club back in the mists of time back in 2010 and very quickly realised that it was one of the most welcoming, enthusiastic and energetic group that I had ever been part of. When the Secretary’s position became vacant I was invited to take on the role. We were a much smaller club back then with only about 100 members. The Secretary also dealt with Membership issues and I had to quickly become familiar with the workings of the England Athletics system. It is only comparatively recently that we stopped accepting subs by way of cash or cheque: thank heavens for BACs and online payments as a considerable part of my time was spent reconciling membership payments and passing these on to EA. Now the club has a dedicated Membership Secretary as a committee role and we pay online.
During my time as secretary I was able to get the club involved in its first ever 24 hour event. Back in 2012 none of us had ever tackled one of these races and it was a major thing for us to get up to the Midlands with our two teams. We didn’t win but we made a respectable showing. By the next year there were 40 of us and we were one of the biggest groups at the event.
It felt like a natural progression some 5 years ago when Rodger Alexander and I decided to share the Chairperson role. We had done so much together within Great Bentley: we had taken groups away to do the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge; we had got groups up the Six Dales event and other long distance trail runs. When Rodger stepped down I continued in the role and also taking a very active part in club events such as the setting up of our races and the club annual awards night. I sit on the Village Hall Committee: this allows the club to maintain good relations with this organisation and through them we have fostered stronger ties with the village as a whole.
I am also a LiRF (coach) and take sessions on a regular basis. I am passionate about ensuring runners stretch: when I first joined GBRC hardly anyone stretched after a run. I worked hard to make this part of every session and I think now all would be surprised if the coach didn’t stretch them out after a run. Hopefully we have fewer injuries as a result! I also take a stretching and strengthening session based on pilates moves on a Wednesday and do all I can to encourage additional exercises to running.
It would take book to describe all of the great times I have had through GBRC. We are a very supportive group. I am around at the majority of sessions and am very happy to help with any query.
If I don’t know I am sure I can find someone who does.