Meet Your Captains

I’m Michael Sanderson, the new Men’s Captain appointed in September 2022.

I’m a relative newcomer to running, having only joined Holmfirth Harriers a few years ago. Up until that point the only sport I’d ever played regularly had been football; my school had never really pushed athletics, instead viewing running as a punishment you must undertake after misbehaving in PE! When I moved to the Holme Valley in 2018 however, I thought joining a running club would have some obvious benefits; it would help me to keep fit, enable me to get to know the local area, and give me the opportunity to make some new friends. Fast forward four years and I would say that the Harriers have definitely delivered on all three fronts. I can also confirm that my PE teachers were wrong; running CAN be fun! I have gradually improved my running since joining the club, and now enjoy training on our local hills and competing in road, fell, and cross-country races. I have always been struck by how friendly and welcoming everyone at the club is, and I want to ensure that this sense of warmth and inclusiveness is extended to others within the club, whether they be new members or old. I always think that with clubs such as ours, members get out whatever they put in. We organise and attend events regularly throughout the year ranging from member-only road races through to national relay races; all of these are fun events that any member can take part in, regardless of their current level of ability.  And if you can’t take part, why not consider lending a hand behind the scenes? It’s a great way to meet other members and to put something back into the club. If you’d like to know more about the club, any of the events we participate in, or just want to say hello, then please feel free to either drop me an email (menscaptain@holmfirthharriers.com), or come and chat to Mark or myself at Neiley on a training night.