Mark joined the Spartans in 2001 as a way to increase fitness for Orienteering, a sport which he'd taken up a few years previously. A fellow orienteer had once said that he was a good runner, which probably sums up his orienteering skills nicely. The headless chicken approach to orienteering isn't very successful and being beaten by old men and young children doesn't help your self esteem.  The running bug soon took hold and that was it for orienteering.

Mark has taken part in all club championship qualifying events up to 1/2 marathon but particularly enjoys the challenge and mud of cross country. He's also made it up Brown Willy and back again on New Years day (with a hangover) and survived to tell the tale. Although he's made a couple of unsuccessful attempts to enter the London marathon, he really has no intention of running a marathon. The commitment and time on your feet are just too much for the perennially injured Mark.

He became the custodian and provider of the club kit 3 years ago. If you need a racing vest, club training T or lycra shorts, then he's the man to ask.  

Away from running, Mark works for a large electronics company on the outskirts of London, agonises over the contrasting fortunes of Stevenage Boro FC and enjoys a good pint of real ale.

Tessa joined the Spartans in 1994 after moving from Hampshire to Stevenage to be with her boyfriend (now husband Dave). She belonged (and still does) to City of Portsmouth Athletic Club where she was Hampshire County champion for 800m for 4 years consecutively. Tessa wanted to carry on her running and, having run 10K’s ,10 miles and Half Marathons, completed marathons in November 1994, running the Stevenage Marathon, and then the London Marathon in 2000 when she was forty and had been in the sport for 26 years. She has been a regular County Medal winner in Hertfordshire and competes on both track and road.

Having loved the atmosphere at the Spartans, Tessa decided to become a coach in 2000 to help her fellow members. She introduced different types of training including track sessions and the odd track race including relays! She also encouraged members to have a go at doing more cross country races and got men’s and ladies teams out in both the Southern Counties and National Cross Country championships for the first time. Tessa along with Katrina Doyle has started the Club’s first ‘Starter Group’ encouraging complete novices to have a go to walk/run on Monday nights.

Away from running, Tessa works for a firm who deal with the maintenance of the roads in Hertfordshire. Tessa likes to knit, do cross-stitch, read, make cakes and more importantly bread pudding!

Like many Graham joined the Spartans in January 2003 after gaining a place in the London Marathon which he finished in 3 hours 15 minutes amassing over 400 miles in the process and loving every minute of it. Since then his times for every distance have improved due to the excellent training schedule.

Graham tries to stay at the sharp end of the club but due to his age, wine and curry consumption this is proving a little difficult; although there is always next weeks training sessions.

Graham will encourage you to compete in club events: Mid Week League and Cross Country. He is also race director for the very successful 5K series in November/December.

Before joining Fairlands Valley Spartans Graham was a very keen club squash player, playing for clubs in Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Surrey. 
Outside running Graham spends his time with his family, has a passion for very loud music and playing with his puppy.

Katrina joined the Spartans in the summer of 2006. She initially joined only for company on training runs when her training partner moved away, and never expected to enjoy being a club member so much.  Despite having a previous dislike for any form of speed-work (it is all relative!), Katrina is now a regular at track and speed sessions and has even taking part in a 200m and 1500m track race! 

Katrina was elected to the Committee in 2007 and will be Race Director for the Relays race in July 2008. She is also a level 1 Assistant Coach and plans to train to become a level 2 Coach this year. Katrina, along with Tessa, has recently commenced the first ‘Spartans Starter Group’.

Away from the Spartans, Katrina is an Accountant working for the NHS, is a regular attendee at a local gym and likes to read to relax.

Richard joined the Spartans in 2004 along with his two FA Referee colleagues Mark Glading and Mark Freeman.  They joined the Spartans with a view to increase their fitness, but as they became established at the club, they found themselves participating more in club events and other races.  Eventually Richard decided to retire  from his refereeing hobby and began to concentrate more on his running, a decision which paid off when he knocked 72 minutes off his marathon PB at the Flora London Marathon this year.

Richard, who runs two businesses single handedly, was elected to the committee in 2007 when he also took on the role of Webmaster.  He is also Race Director for the Mid Week League 10km event held in May each year, and is responsible for providing the biscuits at each committee meeting (a most important job!)

Steve started running in 1994 and joined the Spartans in 1995, his main reason for running being to stay fit and keep the weight off.  Running with the Spartans meant Steve started to train properly and soon found himself entering anything up to a half marathon. Like most people he achieved some quick gains in the first two years and won the most improved Spartan award. After lots of hard work he managed to achieve all the running targets & times he had set himself.

Steve doesn't think his running is exceptional, but it is consistent and Steve has found it very fulfilling to make the Spartan team at many events.  Having recently turned 40 he feels it is time to let the younger club members take up the mantle.

This is Steve's first year on the committee but he has always been keen to help the club at the many of the events we put on.

The one question that Steve is always asked is 'when are you going to run the marathon?'  Steve says 'having managed to avoid it for 12yrs his instinct is to avoid it for a few more!'

Tony has been a member of Fairlands valley Spartans since 2001 and has thoroughly enjoyed his time at the club. Tony joined primarily to improve his running and to train with others, rather than by himself. He now competes in all distances on the track and road from 100m up to Marathon.

Tony has been an active member within the club initially helping out with marshalling, but gradually taking on more roles and responsibilities which lead to being elected as chairman in Nov 2004, which he held until his 3 years were up in Nov 2007. Tony still sits on the club committee, and is also a UK Athletics Level 1 coaching assistant.  Previously he has been Race director for the Midweek league 10k, the 5k series, Lakes Relays and is on the half marathon committee. He also holds a UK athletics Level 2 Official’s licence. 

In his spare time, Tony works for one of the largest IT Companies in the world as a Service Delivery Manager, follows Tottenham Hotspur FC and cooks a mean Thai Curry.

Having previously not run for almost 20 years, and having watched his cousin complete the London Marathon-2003, Andrew ran in the London Marathon-2004 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Andrew then joined the Spartans during the summer, initially to stay fit, hopefully improve, and possibly do the occasional race.

The occasional race, now has become a more regular occurrence including a variety of distances, road and off road, and completing 5 marathons. Andrew’s cousin has a lot to answer for since the London Marathon-2003. Running for Andrew is a great way of just switching off, putting everything else on hold and escaping for a little while.

Andrew works in the imagery industry, loves being outdoors, is a keen gardener including gaining qualifications with the Royal Horticultural Society.