The role of Chair

TL;DR: in May, Hyde Park Harriers is looking for a new Chairperson. As I move my focus to bringing up my daughter, I feel the time is right to hand over the running of our club to someone else who shares my passion and can move it forward. I’ve loved my last 4 years in the role so wanted to share a bit about my experience and reflect on the club’s growth since I took over from Phil, and before him Kay. If you’re interested in the role, or any role on the committee, have a read of:  https://www.hydeparkharriers.co.uk/committee-roles, then contact me on chair@hydeparkharriers.co.uk with any questions or to arrange a coffee and chat. Grab a coffee and read more if I haven’t bored you thus far!

When, in May 2020, I put my name forward for nomination as chairperson of Hyde Park Harriers, the world was in a mess and I was looking for something to focus on in a time of chaos. We’d spent a few months quizzing on zoom, taking part in virtual running challenges and trying to keep our community alive. I’d been part of the HPH committee as an Ordinary Committee Member since May 2018 when I’d put my application in, not really having any idea what the role was about, but knowing i wanted to give back to the fantastic club that I’d taken a lot from since I joined in 2016.

I’d taken in a couple of roles and challenges over that time, including securing a grant from our governing body to use the track and an EA coach to unblock some of the barriers that our members had previously identified to using the athletics track and to interval training. The Club Run programme allowed a number of our members to obtain 5km PBs and get together in training groups different to those they’d previously met. Id also helped arrange 3 coaches to be trained through club funding, and started to look at the club’s longer term strategy. Most importantly, I’d become a leader, raced in the offset white stripe vest and made more friends than I could ever have dreamed of. I knew this was a club I wanted more to do with.

Fast forward 2 years and an opportunity to step up as chair presented itself and I boldly put myself forward. Surprised (but relieved and slightly terrified) that I was uncontested, I found myself in the role with a wonderful committee, but all of us stuck at home: including our members. Luckily, in the April, I’d managed to secure funding from England Athletics to do a full review of the club’s documents and policies which helped me grasp more about our governance and identify any issues or opportunities whilst running sessions weren’t happening. Thanks to my predecessors, we came out with flying colours, got some useful tip and contacts within EA, and completed a fully updated set of policies to set us in good stead for the coming years.

Together with a task force of volunteers from our membership base, we spent the following few months unpicking government policy and creating running and social opportunities for our members which allowed us to meet COVID restrictions, but keep our community spirit up. From zoom quizzes, to relays, to photography, to implementing an app to track attendance, to small group sessions in parks across Leeds, we offered what we could for our biggest membership we’d ever had. Shout out to Clare and Richard for managing the barrage of new members over this time (and always!). 

Monthly zoom committee meetings became a highlight in lockdown and the changes in direction from the government kept the committee busy and the members entertained (and probably confused – but weren’t we all?!). I was bowled over by how much amazing feedback we received over this time and I’m so proud that the club provided sessions and much needed support over such a difficult time for many. Not to mention all the other things we managed to facilitate over that time.

In a bit of downtime, we also found time to survey our members and ask some bigger questions about the clubs longer term strategy. We learnt a lot from this and since things returned to normal post COVID have implemented things like: new coaches, more groups, track sessions, intervals sessions in the summer, a better relationship with the Edge, Sunday long runs, Spond for sessions and ICE details, better comms, some new committee roles to aid Comms and development even further, a better website (thanks Naomi, Adam and Matty) and changed the format of our club trips slightly to make them more accessible yet easier to arrange for our volunteers.

After the first 12 months of chaos, we were finally able to return to our old format of sessions and it was more than wonderful to see a return to the Edge for HPH. So many new members joined us over the pandemic and I really felt like it was time to show them what we are all about on a bigger scale. We’d learnt a lot from our smaller sessions and we had better comms channels, more leaders and a more engaged membership base to start us on a good footing. This return to the Edge also helped the committee settle a bit back into normality, so we all took a bit more time to ourselves as other parts of our lives came back but by bit.

In a paragraph of self indulgence, I’ve decided to name a few of the things that myself and my committee have done over the past 6 years that I’m proud of. This lost is not exhaustive and doesn’t even touch the sides of the effort that the committee put into the day to say running of the club. Huge thanks to everyone that was a part of any of the below:

• The hundreds of runners that get a run, chat, company every Tuesday and Thursday evening.
• The response to COVID that allowed our club to keep going through the hard times.
• The Club Run grant.
• The partnership with North Brewing Company and the continued support we give their run club.
• The grant for our track days in 2022 and 2023.
• Funding 6 new HPH coaches.
• Introducing 2 new committee roles.
• Volunteers turning out in droves to marshal and man water stations
• The return of Leeds Marathon and the club’s achievements in that.
• HPH pacers helping out in the Northern Pacing Volunteers.
• Recognising the value the committee brings by introducing free club membership for committee members for the duration of their term.
• Some cracking Christmas parties.
• Several club trips, including some UK ones with a focus on smaller, different terrain running.
• The 4 ladies on the championship start line of the London Marathon in 2023.
• The EA review of club documents.
• Several strategy surveys and changes to the club.
• The implementation of Spond.

Of course, it’s not always easy and the feedback isn’t always positive. There’s been a couple of challenges and conflicts along the way which have tested me and my amazing committee. On reflection, each of these has been handled exceptionally well by a diverse committee who work brilliantly well together to solve problems and ensure to get the right solutions for our members. It is always rewarding, and the skills I’ve learnt have helped me in my professional and personal life too. It’s always important to remember that it is only a run club and we are all volunteers. Something I try to reiterate regularly with members and my committee.

So, as I look back on my 6 years on the committee, I can safely say this club has been my lifeline, the backbone to my life in Leeds, and the making of my career, my friends and my family. I am absolutely honoured to be taking the role of president from the amazing Kay Jefferies, who will always be the person I name when asked the question: “who do you look up to?” Her thoughtfulness, pragmatism and determination has been a driving force for HPH for many years, and I’m excited to try and fill her big old shoes. I can’t wait to see what this club can become in the coming years and I’m happy to have played a little part in it’s big legacy.

Finally, a huge thanks to everyone single committee member that’s been a part of my incredible team over the years. You are all fantastic humans who give up so much of your time and energy to make HPH the best club, community, lifeline. You’re the best!