Maxine Williamson – PR Legend!
It all began in January 2016. After seeing several friends take up running, Maxine decided it was time to give it a try. Unsure of where to start, she reached out to Martin (Lead Coach) for advice about joining Penkridge Runners (PR) and, more crucially, what kind of trainers she should buy. Martin recommended Asics, so she headed to Ron Flowers, armed with her husband’s credit card (shhh, don’t tell him!), and bought the most expensive shoes she’d ever owned. Even though she didn’t really know what she was doing, she was determined to at least look the part!
As a recent ex-smoker and completely out of shape she arrived for her first session. Within five minutes, she was convinced she might meet her end on the playing fields of Penkridge Middle School. Yet, despite her fitness level, she persevered and kept returning to the training sessions. What brought her back was the warm welcome from everyone—there was no judgment for the red-faced, out-of-breath woman struggling around the field (her words). Everyone was incredibly kind, especially Paula and Shaun, who cheered her on. The overwhelming sense of support gradually shifted her mindset from “I can’t do this” to “Maybe I can if I keep trying.”
A few weeks in, she developed close friendships with her fellow beginners. She recalled the group asking Martin, “When will this get easier? When will we actually be runners?” His response was unforgettable: “If you keep coming for 12 weeks, you’ll form a habit, and you’ll want to keep doing it. You’re already runners.” That stuck with her. She was determined to complete those 12 weeks, partly to form the habit, but also because she knew she’d never hear the end of it from her husband if those expensive trainers were abandoned after just a few weeks!
Soon, they were planning their first 5K at Trentham Gardens, where many PR members were either doing the 5K or 10K. Maxine wasn’t sure she could run that far, but she gave it a shot. To her surprise, she did it! What amazed her even more was that everyone stayed to cheer the slower runners across the finish line. “It felt like a family—so warm, so encouraging.“
They continued to meet every Saturday, and by 2017, Maxine entered her very first half marathon in Stafford. She discovered that she actually liked the distance and was shocked when she crossed the finish line and could still walk and feeling immensely proud. That year, she completed two more half marathons, including her first Great North Run. She was both honoured and overwhelmed when she received the “Most Improved Female” award at the club’s presentation night, a recognition she was fortunate enough to receive again the following year.
Since then, Maxine has run around 20 half marathons. She even ventured into the world of full marathons, tackling the Birmingham International Marathon with her good friend Ann-Marie.
When I say “ran,” we actually crawled through most of it—it was the hardest thing we had ever done, but we finished!
After that, Maxine and Anne Marie attempted the Liverpool Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, but things didn’t go as planned. The cut-off time was strict, and the sweepers were unforgiving, forcing them onto the bus just two miles from the finish. Maxine had never felt more deflated in her life. It was tough to bounce back from that, but the love and support from Martin and Penkridge Runners helped her push on regardless.
In 2019, Maxine tackled the London Marathon, running in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. “Crossing that finish line helped to put the disappointment of Liverpool behind me, and it felt incredible.”
Running has given Maxine a platform to do a lot of fundraising since 2016. Though its unsure exactly how much she has raised, a quick calculation puts it at well over £8,000 for various charities, with the latest being over £1,160 for Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia UK in memory of her mother.
Penkridge Runners has given Maxine so much—better health, for one—but more importantly, it has given her a sense of community. Running brings people together, uniting individuals from different backgrounds and forging lasting friendships. Looking back on all she has achieved since joining PR, Maxine knows it all comes down to the people. The camaraderie and support shared during group runs feel like therapy—no judgments, just love and encouragement.
“The last two years have been incredibly tough for me personally,” Maxine reflects. “My mom’s Alzheimer’s progressed, and it was heartbreaking to witness. Losing her, even though she was still physically here, was mentally and emotionally draining. If it weren’t for running, my amazing running friends, and Penkridge Runners, I’m not sure how I would have gotten through it. Those hours of peace during our runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays gave me the strength to keep going.”
“I believe it’s never too late to start running. I didn’t begin until I was 53, and yet here I am, still going strong. Joining Penkridge Runners was one of the luckiest decisions I have ever made.”
