About Worthing StridersWorthing Striders was established in 1996 by thirty running friends who wanted to form their own running club with the type of running they enjoyed in mind. The initial idea was to start a club with the minimum of rules and fuss that concentrated on road, off road and cross country running - AND SO - Worthing Striders was born.
West Worthing Tennis and Squash Club became our club headquarters because of its excellent facilities and its close proximity to the South Downs. Our club colours of orange and black were chosen to be easily recognisable at races. Our original principles still hold firm but we have developed our operating format within the guidelines and principles of England Athletics to ensure we are compliant with new rules and regulations. Worthing Striders participate in all types of races from fun runs and 5Ks to marathons and ultra-running: our members are diverse in their running needs. We are a mix of experienced runners, runners returning to the sport and beginners. We also have an excellent balance of age groups and a 50:50 ratio of male and female runners. Throughout the year we attend a number of organised run events and have been known to host a selection of social nights and charity fundraising activities. We are known as a friendly club! |
Our Honorary President, Dr Ron Hill MBE
Ron Hill is our Honorary President as well as being a personal friend to some of our Striders. He is a running legend.
Ron was born 25 September 1938 in Accrington, Lancashire and was the second man ever to break 2hrs 10mins in the marathon. He set world records at four distances and ran in three Olympic Games (Tokyo 1964, Mexico 1968, Munich 1972) and won gold medals at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games.
Ron was the first British runner to win the Boston Marathon in 1970 shattering the course record by three minutes with a time of 2hrs 10min 30sec. He is also the founder of the Ronhill and Hilly clothing companies and is famous for his "running Streak" in which he has not missed a day of running since December 1964.
He was awarded an MBE in 1971 for services to athletics.
Ron's final marathon was the 100th Boston run in 1986. He completed 115 marathons in all, 112 under 2hrs 50mins, 103 under 2hrs 45mins and 29 under 2hrs 20mins.
More recently Ron achieved his goal of racing in 100 countries before his 70th birthday and to celebrate his 50th year of running at least a mile a day he completed the Heaton Park Parkrun in Manchester. He crossed the line in under 30 minutes – not bad for a gentleman of 76 years.
RECORD TIMES
Marathon 2hrs 9mins 28sec
20 miles 1hr 36mins 28sec
25K 1hr 15mins 22sec
15 miles 1hr 12mins 48
1 hour 12 miles 1268 yards
Half 1hr 4mins (PB not known)
20K 58min 39sec
10 miles 46mins 44sec
10K PB 28min 39sec
AND some facts you may not know:
Has recorded a run distance of over 160,000 miles
Introduced synthetic fibres to running clothing
Innovated the ‘wrap over split’ running short
Designed the first union jack running shorts
Ron was born 25 September 1938 in Accrington, Lancashire and was the second man ever to break 2hrs 10mins in the marathon. He set world records at four distances and ran in three Olympic Games (Tokyo 1964, Mexico 1968, Munich 1972) and won gold medals at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games.
Ron was the first British runner to win the Boston Marathon in 1970 shattering the course record by three minutes with a time of 2hrs 10min 30sec. He is also the founder of the Ronhill and Hilly clothing companies and is famous for his "running Streak" in which he has not missed a day of running since December 1964.
He was awarded an MBE in 1971 for services to athletics.
Ron's final marathon was the 100th Boston run in 1986. He completed 115 marathons in all, 112 under 2hrs 50mins, 103 under 2hrs 45mins and 29 under 2hrs 20mins.
More recently Ron achieved his goal of racing in 100 countries before his 70th birthday and to celebrate his 50th year of running at least a mile a day he completed the Heaton Park Parkrun in Manchester. He crossed the line in under 30 minutes – not bad for a gentleman of 76 years.
RECORD TIMES
Marathon 2hrs 9mins 28sec
20 miles 1hr 36mins 28sec
25K 1hr 15mins 22sec
15 miles 1hr 12mins 48
1 hour 12 miles 1268 yards
Half 1hr 4mins (PB not known)
20K 58min 39sec
10 miles 46mins 44sec
10K PB 28min 39sec
AND some facts you may not know:
Has recorded a run distance of over 160,000 miles
Introduced synthetic fibres to running clothing
Innovated the ‘wrap over split’ running short
Designed the first union jack running shorts