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!
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.
Web Manager
Jonny
2020 British Marathon Champion Jonny Mellor is the founder of JM Coaching and an elite distance runner representing Team New Balance Manchester as well as keeping the Running Bear website up to date!
Operations & 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.
Running Enthusiast and Ambassador
Akkeal
Akkeal is not only an expert in all things running; he's our up and coming running star. A true natural, he started running just three years ago and already has a 5k PB of 14.46. His races range from 800m on the track to 10k on the road. Recently appointed as Running Bear Ambassador, we'll be joining him on his exciting journey into competitive running.
Running Enthusiast
Nick
Nick has run for over ten years and is a member of Bramhall Runners. He has a passion for running any distance from Parkruns to Ultramarathons. His favourite races are the Fells XC Snowdon Marathon and Bullock Smithy. He is a Parkrun volunteer, and LiFR qualified. Nick also enjoys yoga and core work.
Running Enthusiast and Ambassador
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.
Running Enthusiast
Hattie
Hattie is a committed volunteer at Park Run and runs for the Boalloy Running Club. She has participated in both school and XC league. Her favourite runs are long country runs with good company.
Running Enthusiast
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
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.
Weekend Bear
Clarissa
Weekend Bear
Holly
Weekend Bear
Maisey
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!
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!
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!
Yoga Instructor
Clare Broomhead
Clare started her yoga journey when she broke her thoracic spine 9 years ago &, since then, has intensively practised yoga. Clare has over 500 hours of teacher training - her team is here to add a different dimension to your running experience!
Learn more about Yoga on the Edge here or you can watch some of our yoga sessions on YouTube!
Running Coach
Phil Gartell
Phil is a triathlete and Ironman and loves his cycling and swimming as much as his running, so if you have any questions other than running he's your man.
Phil is a qualified running coach and coaches weekly at his local running club. He loves helping others and gets immense pleasure from seeing the progress in people's running.
Coach
Chris Standidge
Chris first started triathlon over 23 years ago racing for the GB Junior Team between 1995 and 1998. He has been coached himself by some of the top coaches in the sport, developing his knowledge and experience over a long history of training and racing that has taken him all over the world. Chris' racing has all been done whilst working full time so understands the challenges of fitting in training around work, family, and other commitments so he builds a plan around your current lifestyle. Chris has immensely enjoyed coaching athletes to the next level, whatever the starting point, and is now proud to be coaching Kona Qualifiers and multiple GB Age Group Team Members and IM Age Group Podium Winners.
Nutritionist
Justine O'Donnell
Sport and nutrition have always been Justine's passion, from working as a Manager at David Lloyd to qualifying in pilates and fitness instruction and running a healthy food blog. Justine is currently studying for a master's in sports nutrition at Manchester Metropolitan University, indulging in her love of reading and researching all aspects of sports nutrition. Justine will use her experience and knowledge to help you guys optimise your nutritional programme and gain your performance goals!
Follow Justine for her recipes on her Instagram @justineodonnell_ or on our YouTube channel.
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.
Meet Our Ambassadors
Akkeal Chambers
Akkeal (@kealfjc_) started running in 2017 with his Dad, taking part in local parkruns whilst playing for Curzon Ashton Under 21’s.
In 2018 Akkeal made the decision to stop playing football, despite playing it since a little boy - he'd fallen in love with running! Since then his love for running has grown year on year, he's progressed a huge amount, improving and meeting new friends in the running community.
Akkeal's Top tips
Enjoy it, that’s the main thing. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and make sure you enjoy every run you do!
Join a running club, this can seem daunting at first but all clubs cater for all abilities, beginner to elite. This will introduce you to like-minded people and you can then join up for group runs which always helps you to get out that door - If you're not ready to join a traditional club just yet, take a look at the Running Bear Virtual Club!
Favourite Thing About RB
The people, from the team to the customers - everyone that comes in and every team member make it such a nice place to be in!
Proudest Moments:
Being selected to run for the North of England over 5k, this was such a great experience and after only a year of running, for me to achieve this was such a confidence booster and made me realise I had made the right decision to take up running!
Also breaking 15 minutes for 5k, this was such a big one for me as it's something I had been attempting for a long time so when I achieved it, I felt amazing and knew i could go even faster!
PBs
800m - 1:59
1500m - 3:59
3000m - 8:43
5k - 14:46
10k - 32:06
Carol Bird
Carol (@birdyruns) started running in her mid-forties at the Race for Life 5k. Since then, she has run over 35 Half Marathons and 5 Marathons. She began running seriously in her fifties & believes that running should not be defined by age!
Carol also works in our shop, and many of our customers benefit from her great empathy and vast experience.
Carol's top tips
Find yourself a run buddy
If you're meeting up with someone, you're more likely to go, even if the weather is terrible. It also makes running more fun. Have coffee & cake after you've just run -you're allowed it!
Enter a race!
Races aren't just for elite runners, and you'll find a mixture of abilities. It will give you an aim & incentive to train.
Buy some kit that you feel good in
Carol loves the comfortable, practical & stylish Running Bear kit that is now available. It makes her want to get out there & run!
What's her favourite thing about Running Bear?
The inclusivity for all runners in the community & supporting them for whatever reason they run, whether for physical health, mental health, to compete as an athlete, or just for the enjoyment!
Proudest moments:
Being selected for Cheshire in her fifties
Achieving her England Masters Vest in 2019
Being named NSRRA Lady Runner of the Year 2019
Being Inducted into the NSRRA Hall of Fame
Achieved 91% age grading, World-Class Level 2020
PBS:
10k: 41:21 HM: 1:31:45 & Marathon: 3:18:54
About our Partners
Running Bee Foundation
The Running Bee Foundation aims to improve local residents' health and well-being and help tackle the challenge of childhood obesity! We both hold a shared passion for running whilst ensuring the physical well-being of the next generation is at the forefront of everything we do. We're looking forward to supporting their events and supplying their runners with expert tips and advice.
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.
JM Coaching
JM Coaching are leaders in online run coaching headed up by 2:10 marathon runner Jonny Mellor. JM Coaching is passionate about helping other runners achieve their potential and educate them on the correct training methods whilst balancing training commitments around busy working lives. Jonny is joined by International athletes, Adam Craig, Jip Vastenburg and Ross Millington to offer elite coaching. If you're looking for structure and guidance with your training or simply looking to mix up your current weekly training get in touch with the team below.
Yoga on the Edge
Our welcoming and airy space is nestled in the heart of Alderley Edge Village, everything about the studio has been considered with our members in mind. We welcome all abilities and have cultivated an environment where every yogi can discover their own yoga journey, exploring their capabilities and thriving. We have created a true haven of tranquillity for you to enjoy practice safely.
Edge 360
Edge 360 Fitness is for everyone. It specialises in personal training and run coaching for all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes. Katie trains complete beginners to athletes looking to improve their performance in sport. Whether you are just starting out on your fitness journey, training for a specific event, or looking for go further and faster, Katie will provide the expertise, encouragement and accountability you need to help you accomplish your goals. The Edge 360 Studio is located on Wilmslow Park, and all clients are given sole use of the fitness studio for their sessions. Online coaching is also available. Sessions are fun, supportive and tailored to your individual needs.
Physiofit
The team at Physiofit are passionate about keeping you running pain-free. Physiofit was established in 1992 by Angela Jackson, with the aim of providing excellence in physiotherapy care. They are a large team of passionate and experienced physiotherapists who specialise in the prevention and treatment of runners and can quickly establish an accurate diagnosis getting you back running without delay. They will work with you to establish why your injury occurred, teach you how to monitor load, and give you a strength programme to ensure return you to sport better prepared than you were before the injury.
Total Tri Training
Total Tri Training offers a range of triathlon coaching services for athletes' abilities from professional to novice and from sprint distance to Ironman distance racing. They are a UK based online coaching specialist utilising the latest technology to provide "real" coaching through digital platforms along with face to face time whenever possible. They pride themselves on ensuring that all of their athletes are treated as individuals offering a bespoke environment and structure to enable them to achieve their personal goals, finishing their first triathlon through to Age Group qualification.