If you want advice - please feel free to contact any of the coaches - they will be more than happy to help you. Please be aware though, they are all unpaid volunteers and only have a limited amount of time available.

All our coaches have had an Enhanced CRB check.

All our coaches have undergone training by UK Athletics and hold a valid qualification.

Paul Davidson

Relationship: I have been with my partner Janice since 21 March 1986 (not allowed to forget).

Born: 1958

Occupation: Engineer

Coach: Leadership in Running Fitness (& formerly a BAF Assistant Club Coach)

Interests: Athletics, hill walking, bird watching, music.

General: I started jogging in 1983 and after a few months a friend persuaded me to go and train with Grantham AC. I was bitten by the running bug and joined the club on 12 November 1984 (and have been a continuous member since). The competition at the club was fierce and I was soon transformed from a jogger to a decent club runner with a marathon pb of 2:42:52. It wasn’t all running though – I was soon drafted onto the club’s committee as the membership secretary. Not too long after that I became the club secretary as well. Since my time with the club I have held various other committee positions such as team manager, newsletter editor, website manager and road captain. I am still competing for the club at X/C, on the road and on the track. 

Robert McArdle

Born: 1959

Occupation: Businessman

Coach: Leadership in Running Fitness

General: I am motivated by helping complete beginners, whether to running or even to exercise in general, along the path of learning to road run and witnessing their development and discovery of the plus points in being fit, lean and stress free. I prefer to work with the over 30's, the less fit they are when they first turn up the more room there is for improvement.
I steer clear of the track and the elite athletes, there are people more skilled than me to look after them so I prefer work with the "Huffers and Puffers" and try and keep them injury free, jogging along and hitting targets which might seem modest to others but are genuine achievements for newbie's. As someone who came late to running I have an empathy with those for whom it does not come too naturally. 

Janice Anderson

Born: 1953

Coach: Leadership in Running Fitness.

General: I started Jogging/Running in 1986. In 1987, I joined Grantham AC & trained with the Road Runners 3 times a week. I’ve entered many Road Races over the years, but I achieved all my best times between 1993 and 1996, when I was competing as a Vet 40. I’ve also competed for the Club in Cross Country and Track & Field competitions.

I have always found running with a group is a good motivator - you improve a lot more than by yourself.  Not only that, you meet lots of nice and interesting people. That’s why I am keen to encourage as many as I can into an enjoyable sport and lifestyle.

Grace Plant

Born: 1959

Coach: Leadership in Running Fitness.

Interests: Athletics, reading, music, horses and walking my dog Dylan.

General: I started Jogging in the early nineties after giving up smoking. In February 1996 I joined Grantham AC and started training on a regular basis. I loved the long distance runs and went on to run in 5 London marathons.

Although I now only run shorter distances, it gives me a great deal of satisfaction to help beginners get into the sport of running/jogging. It doesn't matter how fast you are - it's all about the taking part !