Introducing our friendly team of Coaches. All our Coaches are qualified by England Athletics, DBS checked, have first Aid knowledge and trained in Safeguarding.
Brian White – Head Coach
My membership goes back about 23-24 years and I have previously held the position of FVS Head Coach. My qualifications include: England Athletic Endurance Coach (L3); Biomechanics Coach (L3) and Strength and Conditioning Coach. A recent qualification may not be so useful but I am extremely well versed in pre- and post-hip replacement exercises! My focus is to allow the club to grow and mature and I will incorporate plans for both new starters and experienced athletes. Ideally, I would like FVS to be capable of attracting both new starters and experienced athletes. I feel quite strongly that the club can achieve success in both areas and if we can improve members overall fitness and win trophies then I feel the club has succeeded.
Favourite Distance: Half Marathon
Coaching Qualification: Senior Endurance Coach Level 3
Reason for Running: Fitness and Competition
What got you to start running?: Injury meant I had to stop playing football so running took over.
Andy Prior – Assistant Head Coach
Running since 2009.
Favourite distance: Half Marathon (you can just about get away with a half!)
Coaching Qualifications: CiRF & BSc (hons) in Sports Science & Coaching
Reason for Running: Its now about the social aspect and seeing my friends, races are great but it’s the people that make it
What got you started? I needed to improve my health, I was 40 and on a fast track to a heart attack, now I am a totally different person.
Nikki Wilby
Been in athletics since before 1998, and running with Spartans since 2008.
Favourite Distance: Half marathons and marathons.
Coaching Qualification: Level 2 (old money!!) jumps coach.
Reason for Running: As I’m not competitive anymore I just enjoy the social aspects of training and representing the club when I can.
What got you started running? I was a county level high jumper and pole vaulter until I snapped my Achilles’ tendon. Once I had recovered, I was offered a place in the London marathon – I was converted to endurance running and never looked back!
Dave Stephenson
Running since 1995.
Favourite Distance: The shorter the better! Preferably 200/400m (5k on the road)
Coaching Qualification: Coaching Assistant and LIRF
Reason for Running: It’s made me feel better because I’m fitter and I also enjoy the social side. I especially love to be able to be competitive on the track rather than be one of the crowd on the road
What got you to start running? I got fed up with waiting for Tessa at races and being used as a bag holder by loads of Spartans!
Ken Jude
Running since 2013
Favourite Distance: Half Marathon.
Coaching Qualification: LiRF
Reason for Running: I really enjoy it, love the banter with my Spartans friends. Especially Tuesday nights which are the sessions which really moved my running on a notch after joining the club.
What got you to start running: I was a couple of years from the big five-oh, weighed 17 stones and decided if I didn’t do something about that before hitting 50 I probably never would. Downloaded a C25k app for the phone and went from there. After getting quicker at parkrun through 2014 just by chasing others and starting to beat people I hadn’t been able to beat a few weeks earlier, I worked out I was running for less time each week because I was getting faster. I worked up to 10k and met Andy Jay who invited me along to the Spartans.
Tracy Pez
Has always run.
Favourite distance: Half Marathon
Coaching Qualifications: LiRF
Reason for Running: Have always loved running.
What got you started? Have been a Spartan since about 2000 I think, before that I ran on my own, but joined a club while living in South Africa to run safely, and found I loved it, so joined FVS when I got home.
Tim Robinson
Running since 1984.
Favourite distance: Marathon
Coaching Qualifications: LiRF
Reason for Running:To stay fit, clear the mind, have fun, relax, socialise and explore my limits.
What got you started?Started running while at school to supplement rugby and squash.
Hazel Smith
Running since 2015.
Favourite distance: Anything up to 100k
Coaching Qualifications: LiRF
Reason for Running: Fitness, fun, socialising and de-stressing. Nothing beats a social run with friends!
What got you started? I needed to get off the sofa and do something. My mum started running aged 55 and was a massive inspiration. Mum brought me to Spartans and I love it! I’ve met so many amazing friends, and with support from fellow club members I have achieved distances I never thought were possible.
Kerstin Prior
Running since 2011.
Favourite distance: 10k
Coaching Qualifications: LiRF
Reason for Running: I love running for a variety of reasons, mainly the friendships and support that are part of being in the club and it keeps me fit and healthy.
What got you started? I started running when I signed up for my first Marathon. Nothing like jumping in at the deep end but it was to raise money for a charity close to my heart and to support my sister. I trained on my own for that first race and found I enjoyed it but would have enjoyed some company on the longer runs. So, when I moved to Stevenage in 2014 I got invited to run with the Spartans and have been with them ever since.
Sean Millwood
I have been running since about 2010
Favourite distance: 6 miles, 10k
Coaching Qualifications: LiRF
Reason for Running: I run to maintain fitness, weight, general health and to enjoy the chat and company of other runners.
What got you started?I started running in response to a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes, it was critical that I should lose weight, improve my general fitness and help to control the sugar in my blood.
I heard about FVS through friends who were already members, they encouraged me to join the Starter Group on Monday nights where gradually I built up some stamina, improved my breathing and running style and graduated to the Tuesday and Thursday sessions.
Nick Gill
Running since 2010, and with the club since December 2016.
Favourite distance: Half marathon – far enough to be a real challenge, but not as unpredictable as a marathon can be!
Coaching qualifications: LiRF
Reasons for starting running: I’ve always done a desk-based job so, for me, it’s an opportunity to move and clear my mind. It makes me feel healthy and is great for my mental health.
What got you started: A friend from university asked if I wanted to do a half marathon with him in his home city after we graduated. I started training and have been hooked ever since!
Calantha Chapman
Running since 2016
Favourite Distance: 5k
Coaching qualifications: LiRF
Reason for Running: Love it! Also love the people I’ve met there that are all so lovely in the running community and very close to my heart. Running and Fairlands Valley Spartans have been there for me always, in hard times and a constant in my life I’m incredibly grateful for. Many of these runners I now consider close friends.
What got you started: I started running because my friends son as a baby was in Great Ormond street and she as his mum wanted to raise some money by running a 10k to say thank you to the hospital. Seemed like a great idea after wine and a Thai take away! But then I started training, with help of Hazel never looked back.
Jim Brown
Moved from West Lothian to Stevenage in December 1992 and joined the Spartans in 1993.
Favourite Distance: Marathon
Coaching Qualifications: Assistant coach, LiRF, endurance official.
Reason for running: More recently getting a sedentary job and wanting exercise. Lots of like minded people to chat with. The buzz of finishing. The buzz of doing a little bit better, now chasing age grade targets and doing a little bit better than I expected. I’ve also become a huge parkrun enthusiast, what a good idea.
What got you started: My first competitive race was in 1967 and I did some 10Ks and half marathons in Scotland as an unattached running but FVS was the first running club I joined and am still here.
David Ackery
Favourite distance: 10k cross country
Coaching qualifications: LiRF
Reason for running: running is great for all round fitness, the club provides a great social and competitive edge to it. I love getting out and smashing cross country!
What got you started: Peer Pressure and keeping fit for work. But later turned into a passion.
Hannah Sypula
Joined Spartans in 2010
Favourite distance: Any
Coaching Qualifications: LiRF, CiRF
What got you started: I started running as the club met where my kids did gymnastics so could get out and exercise instead of sitting waiting for them
John Harris
Started running in 1994
Coaching Qualifications: UKA Level 3 Endurance Coach, CiRF, UKA Physical Preparation, UKA Movement Skills 1&2
Favourite Distance: Anything from 5k to 100K
Reason for running: To keep fit after retiring from football.
What got you started: I entered the London Marathon for 1995 and got accepted.
Anabelle White
Running since 2002
Favourite distance: 5k, painful but over quickly!
Coaching Qualifications: CiRF and LiRF
Reasons for Starting Running: I started running when I was 15 to keep fit and lose some weight and fell in love with it (after a couple of years of perseverance!)
What got you started: My uncle and cousin used to run lots and they got me started and then I joined a beginners group.