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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.
Alex Green
Alex started his career with Peninsula Runners through his highschool work experience program during the spring of 2006. Since then, he has become a valued member of our staff, helping out after school and on weekends. This grade 12 Class President at Elgin Park Secondary school is looking to a strong comeback performance in the 2007 Highschool Track and Field season as he is returing from a chronic foot injury. Alex enjoys long walks on the beach and the occasional movie. He is currently searching for either a soul mate, or just a grad date.
Favourite Shoe: Mizuno Wave Elixer
Favourite Race/Event: Peninsula Runners staff Pushup Contest (Champion, 2006)
Nigel Hole
Nigel is another product of the highschool work experience program. After a positive experience in the Spring of 2006, Nigel has become another weekend warrior on the Peninsula Runners staff team. A grade 12 student at St. Thomas Moore high school in Burnaby, Nigel is coming off some strong performances in the 2006 Cross Country Season and can't wait for the upcoming Track and Field season.
Favourite Race/Event: 800m on the track
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. At present, Ryan is training for the 1500 metres and has set many goals ahead of him, hoping to be a member of the Canadian national team to compete at the World Championships. Besides working at Peninsula Runners and running, he is a full time student in the Faculty of Business at Kwantlen University. You will most likely find Ryan running along the dikes in Cloverdale, and unlike Alex, Ryan prefers long runs on the beach.
Favourite Shoes: Reebok Premier Ultra, Asics Gel-Nimbus, Mizuno Wave Precision
Favourite Races/Events: Ekiden Relays with the Pen Run team, and 1500 metres
Favourite Places to Run: Semiahmoo Trail/Sunnyside Acres and the many, many trails in Whistler
Lorne Terichow
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.
