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Meet the Staff: Langley (Walnut Grove)
Paul Williams — President & 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 — Owner & General Manager
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 favorite place to run... especially when it is wet & muddy.
Kathie
...is our manager & much loved clinic leader. Her favorite motto is "It's a great day for a run!" If you have ever come into contact with her you will see her passion for running and ability to help others reach their goals. She started running after having 4 kids: to get healthy, fit and keep sane. Loves doing all events, short, long, trails, marathons, including Boston, and triathlons. Kathie feels she hasn't produced her best times yet. Kathie says, "I like to focus on what I'm going to do, instead of what I have done." She is always grateful to be able to run, as it has led her so many opportunities and memorable experiences.
Bob
Kathie's right hand man in the marathon clinics, Bob has been a runner since 1986. Bob has run three marathons and has a personal best of 3:11. He has also run several Vancouver Sun Runs, and has officially broken 40 minutes with a time of 39:48. He began working at Peninsula Runners shortly after the Walnut Grove store opened. Bob can always be counted on to brighten a grey, rainy long run with his dry wit. Bob has a lovely wife and three charming children.
Lorne
Lorne began running in the early 60's, well before most of our staff members here were even born! He fondly remembers the trap door long johns that were considered running pants at that time. Although he tried other sports (soccer, rowing, weight lifting, race-walking and cycling), he always came back to running. Lorne is the former owner/operator of Runners West (1980-1996). He is the current masters record holder for the Penticton "Peach City" Marathon, with a time of 2:46:23. He has a personal best for that distance of 2:27. Lorne joined the Peninsula Runners team in February 2004 and enjoys his positions as a coach in the learn-to-run program, and sales associate. In his spare time he can be found adding to his collection of 240,000 comic books.
Nick
Nick is a Kinesiology major, and will be finishing up soon at Trinity Western University. Nick is an up and coming coach with his level 3 NCCP in technical sprints. Nick started working at Peninsula Runners in Spring 2003 after an illustrious high school track & field career at Walnut Grove. Now his biggest goal is to beat Ben and Phil in the yearly Peninsula 800 metre challenge and run under 49 seconds for the 400 metres. Nick is also a volunteer coach at his old high school and has a stable of the province's best 400 & 800 metre girls under his expertise. Look for Nick at the 2012 Olympics with at least one of his protégés.
Jessica Suderman
Jess joined the Peninsula Runners team in September of 2005 after returning from University
in the U.S. on various Softball scholarships. She started her University career with in
Providence, Rhode Island, playing for the Friars. There, she became a perennial Letter Winner,
and an Academic All-American. Upon transferring to the University of Hawaii, Jess helped her
team to win the 2005 PAC-West Conference Championship. Happy to be back home, Jess has made a
welcome addition to the Peninsula Runners staff and Learn to Run clinics.
Favourite Shoe: Reebok Premier Ultra
Favourite Place to Run: Anywhere near the Beach
Favourite Race/Event: Seek the Peak, North Vancouver, BC
Janis
Janis has always run a bit, but started running more seriously in 2002 when she decided that she wanted to do Ironman
Canada the following year. She has since completed 2 Ironmans, 2 half irons, and several half marathons.
Janis' favourite thing about running is the clothes. There is no better way to cure a bad run day than with a new
running outfit!
Tara
Tara is new to running and really enjoys learning as much as she can working at Peninsula Runners. Although she loves to put on her riding boots and head out to go horseback riding, when she's not able to do that, running is the next best thing! Her favourite place to run is Houston Trail.
