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Meet the Staff: White Rock
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 — General Manager & Partner in Langley store
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.
Lisa Farrow — Manager
Lisa has been a part of the Peninsula Runners team since its opening days. Being a member of the community, Peninsula
Runners seemed like an excellent fit. Lisa is the apparel buyer for the store and because of her superb shopping skills,
Lisa has created an outstanding clothing line for our customers to choose from. Not only is Lisa the apparel buyer, but
she also coordinates the walking, learn-to-run, and running clinics. There is nothing Lisa enjoys more than running
through the trails with her daughter.
Favourite Shoe: Nike Vomero and I really really love the Nike+ sportband!!!
Favourite Place to Run: Sunnyside Acres
Ryan Keigher
Ryan has been a part of Peninsula Runners since 2003, but was a Peninsula Runners sponsored athlete before joining the staff. He started
running at the age of 13, competing for South Fraser and then the Valley Royals. Ryan has earned many top 3 performances at BC Championship events, as
well as being named to the BC Team on various occasions for both track and cross-country. Ryan writes running articles for his university newspaper,
and works as an ambassador to the president of the university. Ryan holds a Diploma in Marketing Management, and is working toward his Bachelors of
Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Leadership from Kwantlen Polytechnic University; with that degree he plans to take over the world. While not
at Peninsula Runners or at school, Ryan is running, golfing or hanging out with his friends and family.
Favourite Shoe: Mizuno Wave Rider
Favourite Place to Run: The Open Trails during the nice summer heat
Lorne Terichow
Lorne began running in the early 60's, well before most of our staff members here were even born! He fondly remembers
trap door long-johns that were considered running pants of the day. Although he tried other sports (soccer, rowing,
weight lifting, race-walking and cycling), he always returned 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 and has a personal best for that distance of 2:27:58. 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. Lorne also coaches and writes the
weekly newsletter for the marathon and half marathon clinics and enjoys getting the best results from all the clinic
participants. In his spare time he can be found adding to his 451,283 (and counting) comic book collection. Lorne is working on an online library
as part of his literacy project to encourage kids to read, which is called the "Midnight Comics Library".
Favourite Race: Quebec City Marathon
Dream Race: New York City Marathon... with his credit card
Favourite Shoe: His own two feet
Mike McFayden
Mike, a former city of Richmond employee working in IT, came to Peninsula Runners in 2006 and brings a barrel of laughs for everyone
at the company. Mike has done many half and full marathons and has hopes in running more in the future. He is also the king of email forwards. No
matter the day, Mike brings laughter and enjoyment for all staff and customers of Peninsula Runners. Mike shares his passion for running and loves
helping customers find the right shoe.
Favourite Shoe: Asics Gel-Nimbus
Favourite Race: To work...
Tim Lancaster
Tim is a retired New Westminster police officer. Following his retirement, Tim took advantage of his free time to start running. In
January 2008, Tim joined our 10km clinic and from there expressed much interest in Peninsula Runners. In March of 2008, Tim was brought on board and
is enjoying every moment of it. Tim has moved on from being a clinic participant to being a clinic leader. Tim's passion for running has taken him to
a new level and he is now currently training to run his first half-marathon while taking part in Peninsula Runners' highly successful half marathon
and full marathon clinic.
Favourite Shoe: Saucony Grid Paramount
Favourite Race: Houston Trail Run
Amy McCombe
Amy has been a part of the Peninsula Runners team since the summer of 2009. She came from another running store that shall not be named
where she gained 2 years experience in helping customers find the right shoe. We've retrained her now. Amy enjoys cycling to the beach and through the
trails, going for nice long walks, reading books of all sorts and playing the piano.
Favourite Shoe: Nike Vomero
Favourite Event: The Campbell Valley Stomp
Jack Williams
Jack is a student at Semiahmoo Secondary and is a member of the Ocean Athletics Track Club. After enduring an unfortunate incident of
being hit by a car while crossing the street, Jack has started training to run faster so that he can avoid any more cars coming towards him. Jack likes
watching movies, doing laundry and eating food...Ladies, he's single! Jack is also the son of the owner, Paul Williams; but Jack swears he got the job
the honest way. No, really!
Favourite Shoe: Mizuno Wave Rider
Favourite place to run: Sunnyside Acres
Jake Bruchet
Jake is an avid high school runner, who competes on his Elgin Park Secondary cross-country and track teams, and is a member of the Ocean
Athletics Track Club. Jake is not to be mixed up with his brother, Luc who used to work for Peninsula Runners. Jake's involvement in running has made
him a good fit for Peninsula Runners.
Favourite Shoe: Mizuno Wave Elixir
Favourite Race: The Oregon Relays
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