Prize time for ‘Fit N Running’ athletes

Coach Gregory Walsh thanked all the club’s members for helping to make it a successful first year for the club.

In the past 12 months the club who were formerly known as Fitness First Running Club have restructured with the aim of building an all encompassing club for runners of all levels and abilities.

In the past year Fit N Running have recruited 21 new members, with the majority newcomers to running.

They have also established 3 regular training sessions each week; implemented a successful weight loss campaign with many members achieving considerable reductions in their body fat percentages; reduced to a minimum the risk of injury through the use running specific strength conditioning techniques; registered as an official athletics federation club with a new club name and the introduction of a new sky blue club vest with its logo emblazoned across the chest.

The club, who remain as the resident running club at Fitness First, have also taken out membership at the Michelin Athletic Club which allows them to provide training to members of both gyms.

There were some considerably high individual achievements over the past year with the revitalised Stephen Phillips just one of many who excelled.

Stephen a former smoker has lost 3 stone in weight, improved posture, built strength and run a relentless string of personal bests over a multitude of distances. His dedication and commitment earned Stephen an accolade he richly deserved when he was presented with the male athlete of the year award.

Natasha Rea claimed the Female Athlete of the year prize after an incredible year of dedication and commitment to all areas of her training which saw her run some considerable personal best performances.

Always the considerate team player, Natasha consistently travelled and raced all over the country through all weather conditions with an inspirational level of determination.

This has allowed her to maximise her development potential within her first year in the sport and and lay the foundation to allow her to reach her goals and continue on the upward curve into 2012.

Talented 22 year old student Caroline Flanaghan received the star performance prize for her debut marathon performance in Dublin for which she raised a large sponsorship sum for the George Sloan Centre.

The most Promising athelete award was won by Former schoolgirl hockey international Lesley Doyle.

Optician Lesley, who has recently move to Portrush to complete her studies, has all the qualities that could lead her to a successful career in the sport.

Role model Geoff McKibbin walked off with the hotly contested most improved athlete award. Geoff has made massive improvement in 2011 with a string of personal best showings which were complimented with a 1 ¼ stone weightloss.

Ever ready for a challenge Geoff has no intention to ease off and has set some ambitious goals for 2012.

The now departed Judith Gaston was presented with the clubperson of the year award 6 weeks ago before moving to Norwich to take up a post as a cognitive behavioural therapist. Judith however remains a member of the club.

All members were presented with souvenir mementos to mark the fact that they were founder members at the time of the club’s inception.

For further information on Fit N Running club personal trainer and coach Gregorry Walsh can be contacted on 07952 168016 or email [email protected]