Meet our Coaches

PENNY
Club Chair, Club Committee, BS10K Committee & Coach

SARAH B
Club Committee, BS10K Committee & Coach
I joined the club in 2003 after completing Race for Life the year before. If I didn’t attend Monday club nights, I probably wouldn’t still be running! It is great to have a catch-up each week with the rest of the group . . . I believe in the saying ‘run at the speed of chat’! I have completed lots of 10k and half marathons and I ran the London Marathon in 2008.
I am part of the Sole Sisters Committee and I am the membership secretary. I am also part of the Bradley Stoke 10k Committee.
You will usually find me running in the 5 mile group

JO S
Club Committee, BS10K Committee, Club Welfare Officer & Coach
I hadn’t been particularly sporty at school but felt I needed to focus on becoming healthier & fitter which led me to join the beginners course back in 2008. I fell in love with club nights & running with different women who became friends.
I was approached in 2010 to become a coach & so completed my training, this was a catalyst to me enjoying running more & pushed me to step out of my comfort zone & enter my first 10k race. This has since led on to me completing numerous 10k’s, 10 half marathons, various other races & the iconic London marathon which saw me venture into cycling & open water swimming to gain the London Classics – all through support and encouragement from the club & friends that I have made from being part of the club.
You will mainly find me in the 3 & 4 mile groups but occasionally I will brave the 5’s.
It’s a great to be a part of such a successful club that embraces all abilities & ages.

KAREN G
Club Committee, BS10K Committee & Coach
I always hated PE and running at school so when I was at a New Year’s Eve party and my neighbours suggested joining Soles Sisters I just went along with the idea, thinking they would not remember in the morning! Well, they did, so I found myself being dragged along to the January 2006 beginner’s group!
Even though I was always at the back of the group I found I actually enjoyed running in a group and looked forward to the following weeks.
You will find me in the 3 mile group as this is where I feel most comfortable, however, I have run The Great South, The Great North plus a couple of other half marathons and 10k’s.
Within the club I hold the role of Club Secretary as well as being on the 10K committee.
I have me some of my closest friends at Sole Sisters and I love being part of this wonderful club

NIC
BS10K Committee & Coach
I started my running journey by completing Race for Life. In 2007, my husband entered us both into the Bath Half Marathon as a wedding anniversary present – different! Shortly after completing the Bath Half I joined Sole Sisters in 2008, and have since completed lots of half marathons, six full marathons including the Virtual London in 2020 and the real thing with a Sole Sisters ballot place in 2011. In 2021 I completed Race to the Stones (60 miles along the Ridgeway).
I am joint Event Director for the Three Brooks parkrun. If you would like to participate or volunteer please message me direct.
As well as running you will find me out on my bike and open water swimming.
I organise the social runs with Rachel and we are always keen to hear your event suggestions. I started coaching in 2022 and generally you will find me in the 5 mile group. If you run with the 5’s, I will encourage you to fulfill your next challenge.

JENNY
Club Committee, BS10K Race Director & Coach
My daughter persuaded me to join a Sole Sisters beginners course in May 2017, when I was very low and she could see I needed to get out and do something positive for me. This has proved to be one of the best ideas anyone has ever had for me.
I am someone who does not enjoy running, but running with Sole Sisters most Mondays has given me a whole new social circle, a gang of ladies I can call friends, a few ladies who I now consider close friends, and at least one evening a week where I know I can be part of a supportive group where I can share if I want to, or be with the quietly if that’s what I need.
It is with this fabulous group of ladies that I have managed some personal running achievements, where I can now reasonably comfortably complete a 10k and last year the Great North Run Half Marathon. I am still a slow and not at all a strong runner, I always have to walk as part of a distance run, but this club has shown me that taking part and doing your best on the day is what counts.
I love Sole Sisters for all of the above and this is why I now give something back by being a coach and an active member of the committee.

KIM
Club Committee, BS10K Committee & Coach
I used to coach in the 3 mile group and I help with the beginners, I love seeing the beginners in week one and then watch them progress each week, it is also great seeing them go through all the groups and then some of them going on to run London Half marathon.
I have ran the Great North, Great South and Bath Half marathon plus a few 10Ks in the past.
I currently take out the walking group which seems to get bigger by the week, it has been great having people walk every week and people joining us from time to time who are coming back from injuries, it has been a great addition to be able to offer this as well.

VICKI
Club Committee & Coach
Having become a coach in 2022 you will usually find me taking the Beginner’s group or coaching in the 3-mile group.
I started running by doing Couch to 5k but once I completed this I lacked the motivation to keep running alone. So in 2016 I pulled on my big girl pants and plucked up the courage to walk through the door for the Sole Sisters Beginners Course and the rest, as they say, is history.
I’ve have ran several 5ks and 10ks. I moan the whole way around obviously, but the support I get from my Sole Sisters family is amazing! I’ve made some of my closest friends at SS and I love being part of this wonderful club !

MICHELLE
BS10K Committee & Coach
I started a couch to 5k running on my own on a evening as I was embarrassed that someone would see me I had heard of Sole Sisters and eventually plucked up the courage to join the Beginners course in January 2016 and it was one of the best things I have done. I have made some wonderful friends and running with others is not only safer but more fun. Since I joined Sole Sisters I have entered at least 20 10k races and have ran 5 Half Marathons. The Club were looking for more coaches and I signed up and did the England Athletics Course as I wanted to encourage as many ladies as possible to try running , I have got so much from it myself not only the fitness and company but also the Mental Health benefit . No one is too old or slow or the wrong size give running a go you will be made very welcome.

ADELE
BS10K Committee & Coach
My running journey started in 2015 when I was successful in getting a charity place to run the London Marathon in April 2016. I thought it would be a good idea to join a running club to help motivate me and I joined Sole Sisters Jan 2016 on their beginners course. It was the start of some great running adventures.
I have completed 2 marathons, various half marathons, 10k, 5k and different distances in between. I enjoy doing challenges and I ran the great North, South East and West runs in a year in 2018. I have done cake runs, ran around race tracks, done the slog and Grizzley cub runs just for fun.
I enjoy coaching and helping Sisters reach their goals. In 2023 I suffered a severe plantar injury in my left foot that meant I was unable to run for nearly a year. I came back last summer after lots of physio and am happy in the 3 mile group but sometimes go in the 4mile group.

CAROLINE
Club Committee, BS10K Committee & Coach
Bio Coming Soon…

HAZEL
BS10K Committee & Coach
For a couple of years I just read (and did nothing else) about the Sole Sister’s ad in the local Bradley Stoke magazine. During that time I was doing little exercise and doubting my fitness ability to even join a running group. I remember thinking, on the first Monday evening I joined the Beginners course – is this really going to work out for me?
Well it certainly did work! It was lovely to meet other ladies, also keen to improve their fitness. During the six week course, we worked, not only to improve our fitness, but to encourage one another in friendship. That was six years ago!
Since then, I have entered the Bristol 10 k runs, but still prefer Monday “ Sole Sister” evenings, running about 6.2 k (4 miles) with friends.
Last year I trained to be a coach with Bristol Athletics, as a way of supporting the club and doing my bit to help out. I am not the best runner, but enjoy planning the routes, and it’s great to see ladies turn up and take part, ensuring the future of the club. It is keeping me fit and active, and it is helping others as well to improve their health and be encouraged to keep on going.
I love the running, and being a coach is a real privilege

ANDREA
Coach
I started running in my early 30s and ran my first half marathon in 2004 (Bristol). After running the London Marathon in 2012 I joined Sole sisters to train with other ladies preparing for marathons and since completed Brighton, the first and only Bristol to Bath Marathon, as well as many half marathons, 10ks and have thrown a good number of triathlons in the mix too.
I’ve made some fabulous life long friends at Sole sisters where a love for running and drinking wine (in that order!) has been a common theme.
You will usually find me covering the 5 or 6 mile group as and when required.

CHARLOTTE
Coach
I began running with Sole Sisters in 2013 when I joined one of the beginners groups. I had never been a runner and cross country at school was never something I enjoyed.
I have completed 2 half marathons, several 10k races and recently completed my Leader in Running Fitness course. I often run on a Saturday morning which I love, there are some fab places around Bristol we visit!
I feel honoured to wear my Coach’s vest of a Monday night and encourage and offer advice to so many fab sisters and to contribute to such a fab club.