Penkridge Runners

In 2016, Maxine Williamson joined Penkridge Runners (PR), starting out unfit but filled with determination. With the support and encouragement of the PR community, she transformed from a struggling beginner into a marathon runner, completing numerous races and raising over £8,000 for charity. The friendships and camaraderie she found within the group have been life-changing, helping her navigate personal challenges and keeping her motivated to continue running.

Penkridge Runners is honoured to be the winners of “Community Project of the year” category at the 2024 West Midlands Volunteer Awards, thanks to Jessica Curtiss (a primary run leader for Penkridge Runners) for the nomination.

Before joining Penkridge Runners, I had a very sporadic and uncommitted relationship with running, tending to book one or two races a year, training half-heartedly for those, and then getting utterly fed up with the whole exhausting business, retreating back to the comfort of the sofa for another 6 months. By 2016, feeling like I’d listened to every podcast and exhausted all the music in the world, I was ready to hang up my trainers permanently.