Member Bio – Siobhan

In our latest member bio, we feature mother-of-4 Siobhan who is a fantastic ally to the LGBT community and a valued member of the club (after all, she is one of our star bakers!) Here is her story, in her own words:

“With a degree of trepidation we set off for Gosforth Pool on a cold dark winter’s night in 2017 asking ourselves what we were doing and why?

The why was relatively easy; we’d indulged way too much over Christmas, were feeling lumpen and from boxing day Tom (son #2) and I had been walk / jogging every other day. Within a relatively short period we’d reached the dizzy heights of jogging for 7 minutes and walking for 1 over 3 miles. That’s when I saw a Facebook post on a friend’s wall something along the lines of ā€œYour running Club Needs Youā€.

And so we come to the ā€˜what are you doing?’ You see I’ve run before, largely a fair weather runner I’d begin ā€˜training’ in May-ish, get round the Great North Run in September then at best do some pretty intermittent runs or most likely stop. I knew that running made me feel good and was important for my mental health (I’d had a period of 9 months off work in 2011).

In 2016 I did a C25K course with my youngest two and again stopped until heading out with Tom on that Boxing Day. I was keen to break the ā€˜stop start’ pattern and the post for trying out a club came at just the right time.

It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

In the first year; I ran my first 10k, took 20mins off my GNR time, did a half marathon on road, trail and moorland, ran my first XC and got to see Tom named ā€˜runner up’ as the Club’s most improved runner for the year (proud mum moment overload).

Keeping in in the family – Siobhan (left) running with son Tom (middle) and sister (right)

2018 and this year have been equally good. Alex (son #1) joined the club and I’ve gone on to try new things; taken part in the Good Friday Relays, entered a fell race, been in Jesmond Dene for pre breakfast circuits, acted as a guide runner and finally, properly christened my trail shoes running through deep clarts and icy puddles and enjoying the experience, yes really!

The running is a huge part of it but, for me, there are two other reasons for being a member of NFR.

Tom, Siobhan, Alex

Firstly, I’ve developed incredible friendships, people who’ve celebrated my successes, sung me up hills or chatted me round when I wanted to give up, coffees, cake, celebrations, a wedding…

Secondly, I get to learn how to be a better ally – listening, being visible and loudly positive about a world where everyone, everywhere is valued and appreciated for who they are.

I’m proudly part of a community and have moved on from thinking of others who are faster, fitter, younger…as ā€˜proper runners’.Ā  I’m a runner and my club is Newcastle Frontrunners.”

Main image courtesy of the fabulous Maggie Davison, MDPhoto.