Runners of the Month, 2026

Olivia Wiles is one of our long‑standing members, and her return to club sessions this year has been marked by committed, focused training for a series of major long-distance events.

It has been a year of “firsts” for her, with challenging and impressive ultras that showcase both her resilience and her heart. She has been a regular at our Wednesday social clubrun sessions, using them to support her training while reconnecting with fellow runners and bringing her warm, steady presence back into the group.

Olivia’s race achievements this year have been exceptional. She completed The Lake District Lap in 14:49:31, followed by the Stroud Beer Race 7.2 miler in 65:51. She then delivered a superb PB of 08:53:35 at the Peak District 50K, before taking on, and conquering, The Rat Race 100‑miler from Edinburgh to Bamburgh Castle, finishing in 37:37:24 and earning another 50K PB along the way.

These are extraordinary endurance accomplishments, each one demonstrating her determination, strength, and spirit.

Well done, Olivia, after such a phenomenal run of events, we hope you enjoy some well-earned rest and relaxation. We can’t wait to see what challenges you take on next.

Philip Brewer joined our Almost family a few years back and has embraced Almost Athletes with absolute wholehearted enthusiasm, making remarkable strides in his running this year.

A regular yogi, and Almost Athletes race series winner, he attends yoga classes every week, joins our Wednesday social club runs, and is a familiar face at the CRC Sunday socials, always bringing positivity and commitment.

Phil has thrown himself into this year’s club’s road and off‑road series, and the second half of this year has seen a brilliant run of PBs across multiple distances. He ran 44:22 at the Linda Franks 5 Miler, 57:41 at the Jenner Jog 10K, and a superb PB of 53:17 at the Cirencester Sizzler. He followed this with 57:44 at Bugatti 10K and then another PB at the Meteor Mile in 7:09.

His consistency, enthusiasm, and rapid progression make Phil a fantastic addition to the club and a very deserving July Runner of the Month.

Hollie Galvin is our first June runner of the month after an outstanding spell of running across a variety of challenges.

Her achievements include a course PB of 36:19 at Pittville Cross Country, 55:20 at the Jenner Jog 10k, an incredible solo effort at Endure24 covering 75 miles in 24 hours and 14 minutes, 70:05 at the Stroud Beer Race – the fifth event in the Almost Athletes Road Race Series – and 62:36 at the Bugatti 10k, where she placed third in her age category.

Hollie also brings a breath of fresh air and fun-filled antics to every event she takes part in, and is always social and supportive.

Hollie is now tackling Kilimanjaro, and the whole club wishes her lots of Almost luck!

Oliver Lynott-May is our second June runner of the month after an excellent period of racing and progression.

A long-standing Tuesday night regular and social club runner, Ollie is always friendly, sociable and a valued presence within the group, and that consistency is clearly paying off as he continues to smash PBs.

His recent achievements include a PB of 30:49 at the Linda Franks 5 Miler, 39:30 at the Bourton 10k, 39:07 at the Jenner Jog 10k, a 10k PB of 38:30 at the Cirencester Sizzler where he was second home for the club, and 40:36 at the Bugatti 10k, where he was again second home for the club.

Keep smashing those PBs like we know you can Ollie!

Marcia Rigby is our first May runner of the month after an incredible series of marathon efforts across Europe in pursuit of Good For Age times.

She ran 3:53:15 at the Rome Marathon in March, 3:57:23 at the Paris Marathon in early April, and then 4:08:13 at the Stratford Shakespeare Marathon just a few weeks later, completing her third marathon in a remarkably short period.

To cap it off, Marcia also doubled up with the virtual London event, earning two medals for her efforts.

While the Good For Age times may have narrowly escaped her this time, her resilience, determination and commitment have been truly outstanding.

We hope you carry on striving for your GFA, you have all of our support.

Dan Magovern is our second May runner of the month after an impressive spell of training, racing and supporting the club.

His recent performances include a PB of 3:35:05 at Berkeley Fission in March, 70:47 at the Cleeve Cloud Cuckoo, and 1:02:25 at the Bugatti 10k, before going on to complete his first marathon at Newport in 5:17:27 after putting in plenty of hard training.

That achievement was made even more special with the support of four dedicated club members, who finished just seconds behind him.

Dan is also a fantastic supporter of Almost Athletes, always encouraging others and cheering on fellow members at the handicap races, which he has proudly taken part in himself, and consistently pushes himself as far as he can.

We wish you all the best in any future races and your training courses!

Ian McCormack is one of our April runners of the month and one of Almost Athletes’ quieter achievers, putting together an exceptional run of results.

With consistent top-five finishes at various parkruns, such as KGV parkrun, Ian has knocked out PBs across multiple distances and a string of impressive record splits, building up an outstanding list of accomplishments.

Among the highlights are a PB of 66:40 at the Boddington 10 Miler, being first home for the club at the Tewkesbury Half Marathon in a PB of 1:22:26 – finishing 19th overall and setting a new MV45 club record – and being first home for the club again at the Cirencester Sizzler in 38:15.

Here’s to more record breaking race times!

Holly Wright is the second of our April runners of the month winners and one of the club’s creative neurodivergent members, whose determination and commitment shine through in everything she does.

Her recent achievements include a Pittville Cross Country PB of 35:22, a Cheltenham parkrun PB of 22:34, and 53:12 at the Cleeve Cloud Cuckoo, the fourth race in the club’s road race series.

After training hard and making changes to her nutrition, Holly also completed her first marathon at the Stratford Shakespeare Marathon in April in an excellent 3:50:59.

She is also a regular Monday night track attender at Ivana’s sessions, and even ventured out of her comfort zone to attend the club AGM back in April.

More recently, she showed her versatility at the Gloucester track races, clocking two sharp middle-distance performances of 2:06 for 600m and 5:56 for 1500m.

Here’s to Holly achieving great things with the club’s support.

Hayley brings glamour, grit, and pure joy to everything she does: both as an ASICS Frontrunner and Kyloe In The Wild ambassador, she is one of the most vibrant personalities in our club. She shares her running life and adventures with such openness and enthusiasm that it’s impossible not to feel inspired by her journey.

Since her last birthday, Hayley has been on a mission. She’s pushed herself harder than ever, embracing structured training and strength & conditioning to elevate her performance. The result? A series of brilliant race achievements and a renewed confidence in her running.

Her 2026 season has been nothing short of impressive:

– Seville Marathon: 04:20:59, taking 3 minutes off her 2019 PB

– Just a month later: Gloucester Half Marathon: 01:54:27, her fastest time since 2018

– A week after that: SuperHalf Prague HM: 02:07:36

Hayley is now firmly on the road to the Chicago Marathon, continuing her journey through the Six Majors, a challenge that suits her ambition perfectly.

Her story, her energy, and her commitment have resonated far beyond the club. She’s so inspiring that her journey was featured in Women’s Health UK, shining a national spotlight on her resilience and passion.

Congratulations Hayley, your drive, positivity, and adventurous spirit make you a truly deserving March Runner of the Month.

Richard is one of the friendliest and supportive members of the club, the kind of runner who always has time for others, even while quietly putting in the hard work himself. He’s a familiar face at club sessions, weekend long runs, and parkruns, and his positivity makes him a valued part of the Almosts community.

His journey this year has been defined by patience, strength, and determination. Richard has battled long‑term PF and Achilles issues, enduring months of discomfort and setbacks. Instead of giving up, he doubled down on strength training, rebuilding his fitness from the ground up. That commitment has paid off, bringing his race times down and making him a serious contender in road events once again.

Richard is a regular parkrunner, often weaving a local parkrun into his weekend long runs. And despite his early starts, he always finishes in time to take his sons to their matches: where he frequently volunteers as the 90‑minute linesman, proving his endurance extends well beyond running.

His race performances this year have been superb:

– Shakespeare Marathon (2025): 03:42:36

– Berkeley Fission 20M: 02:43:58

– Gloucester Half Marathon: 97:14

Richard’s comeback is a testament to perseverance and smart training, and yes, we hope he is putting those first pair of carbons to good use.

Congratulations Richard, your resilience, dedication, and unwavering support for others make you a thoroughly deserving March Runner of the Month.

Jo is one of the most welcoming and supportive members of the club: the kind of runner who lifts the atmosphere simply by turning up. Alongside her other half John, she’s a fierce age‑category contender and a brilliant example of what consistency, community spirit, and determination can achieve.

Recently crowned the FV45 Off‑Road winner and the overall Road Series winner, Joanne has had a phenomenal year. Even after coming back from injury, she’s returned stronger, more confident, and more committed than ever.

She’s an avid parkrunner, travelling to Gloucester, Newent, and far beyond, always with a smile and always ready to cheer on others. She’s a regular at track, both of Michael’s sessions, and clubrun day, showing up week after week with the kind of reliability that inspires everyone around her.

Joanne is also a huge supporter of fellow Almosts during races and, like John, she absolutely loves the drama and excitement of the handicap series.

Her race performances this year have been superb:

– Croome Capability Canter 10K: 54:48

– Colin Valley 10K: 47:16 (2nd Lady)

– Meteor Mile PB: 06:16

– Boddington 10M (2025): 73:22

– Hastings Half Marathon (on notoriously harsh terrain): 01:42:21

Joanne’s blend of speed, spirit, and unwavering support for others makes her an exceptional member of the club, and a thoroughly deserving February Runner of the Month.

Congratulations Joanne, your dedication, strength, and positivity shine through everything you do.

Ceinwen has been on an extraordinary journey over the past year. After winning the Dedicated Runner of the Year Award in 2024, she didn’t just maintain her momentum: she completely reinvented herself. Her running, her fitness, and even her approach to health have undergone a remarkable transformation.

With a full overhaul of her nutrition and training habits, Ceinwen has become a stronger, more confident, and more resilient runner. The improvements have been clear in her performance, but even more so in her energy, consistency, and belief in herself.

She’s a regular club runner, often seen at Monday track sessions, powering through Fi’s weekly HIIT, embracing the weekend trails with fellow Almosts, and taking on even more hills with Kim’s Run2Help group. Her commitment is as varied as it is impressive, and it’s paying off.

Her race times reflect just how far she’s come:

– SuperHalf Valencia HM (2025): 02:36:34

– Forest of Dean Spring HM (on very hilly terrain): 02:38

Ceinwen’s progress is the result of courage, consistency, and a willingness to make big changes in pursuit of better health and stronger running. She embodies what it means to grow, adapt, and thrive — and she inspires others simply by showing what’s possible when you back yourself and others.

Congratulations Ceinwen, your transformation, dedication, and spirit make you a truly deserving February Runner of the Month.

Quietly determined, fiercely resilient, and one of our longest‑standing members, Amy is the kind of runner who never seeks the spotlight: which makes celebrating her all the more special. She’s one of the club’s true long‑distance specialists, and 2026 has been her strongest year yet.

Despite being held back by a chronic condition, Amy has refused to let it define her running. Her progress this year is a testament to her grit, consistency, and sheer perseverance, pushing through the tough patches and coming out stronger.

Her training is a masterclass in commitment. She fits her miles around family life, often heading out in the early hours before taking her kids to football and rugby matches. It’s the kind of dedication that most people never see, but it’s exactly what makes her achievements so impressive.

And what a year she’s had:

– Berkeley Fission 20: 02:38:08, 1st Almost home and 4th in her age category, with a brilliant PB

– Boddington 10 Miler (2026): 73:33

– LF5 (2026): 34:38

Amy’s return to top form has been inspiring to watch. She trains with purpose, races with heart, and carries herself with a quiet strength that lifts the people around her.

Congratulations Amy, your determination, resilience, and outstanding performances make you a truly deserving January Runner of the Month.

A true stalwart of the club, John is one of our consistently speedy runners and a familiar face at almost every club activity. Fresh off winning the MV50 Road and Off‑Road Award in 2025, he’s continued to show exactly why he’s such a force across the club’s race series.

John is the definition of commitment. He turns up to Michael’s Tuesday sessions, clubrun day, and even Michael’s Thursday speed session: a triple‑threat training routine that has helped him secure countless 1st in age category finishes and 1st Almost home results throughout the year.

He’s also a huge supporter of the club community. Weekends are never “rest days” for John: he and his wife Joanne travel to parkruns near and far, always cheering on other members and add to the atmosphere wherever they go. And when it comes to the handicap race series, John thrives on the drama, the tactics, and the friendly chaos of it all.

His race performances this year have been outstanding:

– Jenner Jog 10K: 44:53

– Bourton 10K: 44:33

– Boddington 10M (2025): 01:13:45

– LF5: 35:30

– Croome Capability Canter: 48:47

– Cirencester 10K: 44:31

– Meteor Mile: 06:04

– Hastings Half Marathon (on notoriously tough terrain): 98:20

John’s year has been defined by consistency, enthusiasm, and a genuine love for the sport, and for the people he shares it with. His dedication to training, racing, and supporting others makes him an invaluable part of the club.

Congratulations John, your hard work, spirit, and brilliant performances make you a thoroughly deserving January Runner of the Month.