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Meet the Owners & Staff: Abbotsford
Paul Williams — Co-Owner
Paul Williams was Canada's dominant distance runner from the early 1980's until he retired in 1996. Paul Williams' athletic career had its start back in the early 1970's in Toronto. After he moved West in 1981 and joined Dr. Doug Clement, his career blossomed. Paul attended the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games where he represented Canada in the 5,000 and 10,000 metre events. In 1990 he won the Goodwill Games 5,000 metre Gold Medal as well as the Bronze Medal at New Zealand's Commonwealth Games. He represented Canada internationally many times at the World Cross Country Championships, World Track and Field Championships, Commonwealth Games, as well as on the European track circuit.
After his career ended, he settled down into the South Surrey area to focus on his family as well as to open a very successful running store called Peninsula Runners. Together with his staff, Paul helps to promote running and a healthy lifestyle by being involved with many community events. In particular, he helped host a number of local fun runs called the Peninsula Runners Run Series from 1997 until 2001. Also through Peninsula Runners, he helps to guide hundreds of runners from the beginning stages right through to the experienced marathon runner.
Paul has been a driving force behind trying to get a track built in the South Surrey area from the beginning, through fundraising and more recently, through hosting the Peninsula Runners Trail Series to raise the money needed. Paul Williams will continue to support and encourage local events and try to make his community a better and healthier place to live.
Philip Ellis — Co-Owner
Phil has been an avid runner since 1982 when he started running in high school. He went on to compete internationally for Canada on numerous occasions and won the Vancouver Sun Run in 1991. Phil has run 28 minutes for 10 km and 63 minutes for the half marathon but is most proud of his 10 mile best of 47:44 set in England. Phil joined Peninsula Runners in October of 1997 and then helped to open the Walnut Grove store in 2001. Phil is now one of the driving forces behind the popular Peninsula Runners Trail Run series and the challenging Fort Langley half marathon. If you ever go for a run at Campbell Valley Park you may see Phil out there as this is his favourite place to run... especially when it is wet and muddy.
Andrew Ott
- Alberta High School bronze medal 800, silver medal 400m
- member of Valley Royals TC
- Going to Trinity Western in the fall where he will be running with the Spartans and studying Kinesiology
- Currently training for 400m and 800m at BC Provincials
- Favourite shoe: Wave Rider; Favourite spike Asics Turbo Phantom
Jason Henrikson
- Former UofGuelph Gryphon middle distance runner
- Studied human nutrition
- Has close to 10 years of helping runners and walkers find the best shoe for their foot
- New resident of Abbotsford
- Currently training for RVM Half Marathon
- Favourite shoe: adidas Supernova Glide
Jeremiah Johnston
- Former University of Idaho middle distance runner
- Marketing Guru throughout the city of Abbotsford
- Has 8 years of experience within the running shoe industry
- Currently running for Brooks and always looking to help various events throughout the city of Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley
- Favourite shoe: Brooks Ghost 3
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