Home/Meet The Bears

Meet The Bears

Our Shop Team

At Running Bear, we're a team of running and fitness enthusiasts, who will be delighted to meet you in our shop, talk to you on the phone or over email! We absolutely love what we do and always look forward to sharing our passion for running and knowledge to help our customers run happy and injury free!

If you'd like to read more about our Running Bear Team Values and our commitment to Social Responsibility, please click here!

Owner

Catriona

Catriona is the Owner of Running Bear and has 25 years of Retail experience. She is passionate about running and is also a keen cyclist. She is a member of the Wilmslow Running Club and is a Chair of The Wilmslow Running Festival. She loves to organise sporting events for Charity.

Business Manager

Jordanna

Jordanna is our Business Manager. She's passionate about creating a running community that's inclusive, educational and inspiring. Her goal is to make Running Bear the best place to work, shop and be a part of. She's also dedicated to keeping fit and loves heading to the gym after a day in the den!

Alderley Edge Store Manager

Sophie

Sophie has over ten years of specialist running retail experience and is now the manager of our Alderley Edge shop. She is a competitive runner with personal bests of 17:06 for the 5k and 35:48 for the 10k. In addition, she is a Level 3 qualified personal trainer and sports massage therapist. Sophie is a member of Liverpool Harriers and enjoys exploring the trails in the Peak District.

Club Admin & Events Manager

Rik

Rik is our operations and events manager and administers the Running Bear Running Club. He loves running, cycling and kayaking and whilst his football playing days are over, he's a life-long Man City fan. 

Nantwich Store Manager

Akkeal

Akkeal is our Nantwich Store manager after being a Huge part of our Alderley Edge team. He Has taken on the role as Store manager with our New Nantwich store and is happy to help with all your running needs! Akkeal runs 5 and 10ks with PB'S of 14:46 and 31:17.

3
Stock Manager

Matt

Matt is our Stock Manager and one of our new additions to the running bear team. He has been involved with many Running Bear events over the years though, whether it is the Cheshire Dash, or the Wilmslow Running Festival as the Bear! He is a keen athlete, climber and outdoor enthusiast!

Pick & Pack Bear

Charmaine

Charmaine took up running in her mid-twenties and loves to run on all terrains and distances but is particularly passionate about local fell racing. She is a member of Congleton Harriers and was the lead in children's school Cross Country. She has a true running family!

Running Enthusiast

Carol

Carol is one of our Running Bear Ambassadors. Carol started running in her mid-forties at the Race for Life 5k, since then she has run over 35 Half Marathons and 5 Marathons. To learn more about her accomplishments & her Running Bear Journey click here!

Running Enthusiast

Maria

Maria loves trails and fell running but most of all.. just getting outside and running free without any commitments! She has run everything from 5K to Ultras and Endurance.

image0 (1)
Running Enthusiast

Mandy

Meet Mandy, an adventurous Runner who discovered her love for running in her mid-twenties, competing in diverse distances from 10k to mountain marathons. Mandy's Love for the outdoors led her on incredible walking holidays across Europe's long-distance paths and even a trek to Everest Base Camp. Embracing nature's beauty, Mandy finds joy in trail running, mountain walking, and cycling, inspiring others to savor the great outdoors.

2
Running Enthusiast

Shaun

Shaun is a great addition to the running bear team between both of our stores! He enjoys everything from a 5k to a marathon, but the half is where he really shines, with a PB of 1:20:14. He's often found at Cross Country and Fell races, and even does a bit of pacing at events. To be honest he just loves running!

thumbnail_image1 (1) (1)
Running Enthusiast

Andrea

Andrea, a valued member of the Running Bear Team at Nantwich! Andrea found her passion just before her fortieth birthday, embracing it as a gateway to fitness. As an ardent trail running enthusiast, she revels in the beauty of scenic landscapes, regardless of the distance. 

Running Enthusiast

Malcolm

Malcolm has been Running for over 30 years on all different types of terrains and distances. He is a former member British Police Cross Country team but also enjoys orienteering and fell running. He has an impressive list of Personal Bests and is a big contributor to the medal wall! He is also a member of Wilmslow Running Club and organiser of many running events in our community.

thumbnail_9eff4b1e-3e8b-4a4c-8d0c-957d11fdbf26
Weekend Bear

Hope

Hope, one of our weekend Bears at Nantwich, comes from a running family and has been competing competitively since the age of 9, proudly representing Vale Royal AC. Her passion lies in cross country races in muddy terrains and trail running. Hope has clinched 6 English national titles in cross country and road racing with her team. Hope has been selected to run for England in prestigious cross country events, Superstar!

thumbnail_image0
Weekend Bear

Isaac

Isaac is a weekend Bear at Nantwich Store, His passion lies in track racing, where he competes in 800m and 1500m events, representing Vale Royal AC. Inspired by his older sister, Isaac has been running for eight years, showcasing his dedication and talent on the track.

Meet the RBRC Experts

As a Running Bear Running Club member, you will have a wealth of experts on hand to help you on your running journey. You will have access to training plans, live sessions and professional advice to help take your running to the next level, whatever your goal may be!

Learn More about RBRC

RBRC Head Coach

Coach Nick

Nick has an Impressive running pedigree from track to half marathon. He is a commentator for UK Athletics. He has worked professionally in International Sport and is a strong supporter of the local community through park runs. He has received the Community Hero award for services to sport. Nick is a Chairman of Manchester Cross Country League and is a race adjudicator for Northwest of England Athletics. He is a County selector and a Coach for RBRC Interval Sessions.

Specialist Running Physio

Angela Jackson

Angela has been treating athletes and runners of all levels for the last 28 years, including training with the Blaise DuBois clinic in Canada

As a specialist running physio, Angela has a major interest in injury prevention, including focusing on monitoring your load, strength programmes and she always works to return her patients back to sport better prepared than before an injury!

a
Strength & Conditioning Expert

Sally Gilliver

Sally has always loved exercise and sport - At school she played hockey at county level and then started running in her mid-thirties.

Although her focus is now on running for the sheer enjoyment of it, Sally still likes competition and still races, enjoying fell runs & races most of all - she's a life member of the FRA. 

As a mature student, Sally did a degree in Sports, Coaching and Exercise Science and went on to do research in muscle function. She is now a CrossFit level 2 trainer & co-owns a CrossFit gym in Macclesfield.

Dr. Kate

Dr. Kate

Dr. Kate recently retired from being a GP for over 30 years.  An experienced runner across road, trail & fell for Wilmslow Running Club you'll be used to seeing Dr. Kate at a lot of the local races in and around Cheshire. Dr. Kate will be on call to help answer your running-related health queries, as well as running Q&A sessions to answer those burning questions!

Personal Trainer

Katie Thompson

Katie is a personal trainer and running coach based in Wilmslow with a love of sport and passion for helping others to achieve their health and fitness goals.   

Katie started her fitness journey in 2016 when she signed up for her first 10km after having her second child.  At the time, she was a complete beginner and the prospect of running 5km nevermind 10km was particularly daunting.  Five years on and she’s completed numerous 10kms, half marathons, triathlons and a marathon, and has qualified to represent Great Britain in her age group at the Standard Distance World Triathlon Championships and the European Triathlon Championships in 2022. 

She founded Edge 360 Fitness so that she can share her enthusiasm and expertise to help others accomplish their fitness goals.

About our Partners

transforming lives

Transforming Lives

Transforming Lives is a charitable foundation set up by Mike and Catriona Marshall, the owners of Running Bear. Their mission is to help transform the lives of people who most need it. Transforming Lives and Running Bear work in partnership to support charities through people who run to fundraise, local events and Running Bear Events. Please see our charity page to learn how you can join us or learn more below.

Learn MORE

thumbnail_9D0C3C120ADA47D89E531813A6F0EAE9

NICK BISHOP COACHING

Coaching is more than simply writing a programme, its about really understanding your athlete, their strengths, their development areas, their aspirations and more.

What really makes them tick? No two athletes are the same, and neither should they be treated the same. Generic programmes are useful, but only well planned personal programmes truly work athletes to their maximum potential.

Nick has worked in International sport both as a Coach but also to deliver workshops on mental peak performance.

With a life time of experience, Nick is always on hand to chat, talk plans and ideas, and to make sure that you become 'your best version of you'.

Learn MORE

Shopping Basket