Club Captains

Laura Rangeley

I would be the first to say I am very much not a “natural” runner and used to cheat at the eight-lap mile challenge at school, reckoning that a sprint finish made it look like I’d done them all. I first got into running by signing up to run the Sheffield 10k for charity along with my workmates, found it really hard, and hated it – but fell in love with the race day buzz, the community atmosphere, and the feeling of accomplishment that went with finishing it. Following on from this I signed up to the 2019 Steel City Striders 5k to 10k course, which genuinely changed my life.

From then I’ve got stuck in to everything from road races, relays, cross country, trail and fell running, and have even successfully completed three ultramarathons! And when I’m not running, you’re likely to hear me before you see me cheering on from the sidelines.

I’m a firm believer that determination, resilience, a sense of adventure and a smile are what makes me a successful runner, and that good vibes are worth just as much as fast times. Having won Long Distance Strider and Most Improved Runner in 2023, I think I am proof that a Personal Best can come in many forms!

In my role as Club Captain I hope to be able to encourage members from across the entirety of Steel City Striders to get involved in events, leading by example that they can be genuinely inclusive and not at all scary. Competing at the National Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill in 2022 was one of the best days of her life, and I will try my hardest to make sure every member of the club has the confidence to get involved and the opportunity to feel that joy.

My post race refreshment of choice? Bowl of chips, pint of bitter shandy.

Malcolm Baggaley

After having a brief sprinting career during school, my adult running life started back in 2017. After initially cycling for fitness, I started to run and realised I actually quite enjoyed it.

18 months of running on my own and I signed up to Dronfield 10k. I was already looking for a club to join and when I got to Dronfield there was a sea of gold and green. Not only that, but every single one of you were smiling, and so full of encouragement for everyone, from the very front to the very back. I knew I’d found my home.

Road racing is my forte, and although I think 10k is my best distance, half marathons are my favourite. But I just love that race day feeling and will race in anything from cross countries, trail, fells, marathons, and ultra marathons. Having said all that, nothing beats a good relay, whether that’s on the road, or cross country (I’ve not made it to the fell relays…yet), the team camaraderie in Striders is hard to beat.

I’m also a sucker for a challenge, and when I’m not in prep for a specific race, you can often find me tagging along on someone else’s hairbrained scheme. Spontaneous ultras, days out on the fells, taking part in the highland games, or traveling halfway across the country just to cheer on and support running buddies. And every single Saturday you will find me at a parkrun somewhere in the world, love it.

Recently, I was lucky enough for the club to fund my coaching qualification, and find joy in helping others achieve their running goals, whether it’s starting out, getting quicker, or going further. If you want any advice, tips, or to join our track sessions on Thursdays, feel free to drop me a message, or have a chat at one of the club nights or races that I’ll invariably be at.

And, for the record, it’s a post race coffee and flapjack for me.

Hannah Holliday

After spending my school years being “not good at sport”, I dabbled with running in my twenties but it wasn’t until a few years and a couple of kids later that it really stuck and I found myself actually starting to enjoy it. I joined Striders in 2020 as I’d decided to enter my first ultra and needed some training company. So I nervously went along to the Millhouses Tuesday Daytime group and haven’t looked back since. 

What I thought I wanted from a running club was simply somewhere to turn up and get the miles done with like-minded others. When I joined I had absolutely no intention of ever getting involved in a club race, firmly believing that they were for ‘serious’ runners only. Several relays, Parkrun cups, road champs, local races, track nights, a Run Leading qualification, a Coaching qualification, new friends and many happy miles later, I think it’s safe to say I got a lot more than I bargained for. 

I owe a lot to the club and particularly to the people who have encouraged me to get involved in things that were previously very far out of my comfort zone. And yes, I may occasionally have been known to say “never again” on the finish line…but we all know I don’t mean it, and it’s not a secret that I secretly love it! 

I prefer longer distances and would always choose a marathon over a 5k, but I can generally be talked into most things, especially if there is a social aspect and/or coffee and cake at the end. I actually find it quite hard to say no to a challenge these days, so probably need to start being more careful about who I hang around with…

I’m excited to be part of the Club Captains team and am looking forward to supporting as many others as possible to get involved. My enthusiasm for my own running is nothing compared to the enthusiasm I have for everyone else’s, and I love nothing more than encouraging others to do and achieve things they didn’t think were possible.

Rob Byers

As a teenager you’d usually find me out cycling in the Yorkshire Dales, but that quickly fell apart during university, where my focus shifted and my fitness quickly faded. A random work health screening which flagged me as “overweight” was what finally pushed me to reluctantly lace up my running shoes.  

I’m fiercely competitive and spent my first year of running unaffiliated, chasing a high of winning races and breaking personal bests. Everything came crashing down in 2021, when a family crisis turned my life upside down. Suddenly running didn’t seem so important anymore, and I scrambled to find anything that could pull me out of a very dark place. I finally came along to a Striders’ club run in January 2022 and immediately got hooked on the camaraderie that a club brings. Rather than doing most of my running alone, I was now surrounded by friends and familiar faces. 

One of my proudest running moments came in 2024, where twelve of the club qualified for the national 12-stage road relays by the skin of our teeth. With every member of the team putting everything out there. 

I’m very excited to be a member of the team and hope I can help foster that same inclusive environment that got me hooked from the start. I love a good chat about all things training and racing, so never feel shy to pick my brains about anything!  

John Egginton

I have always been a pretty sporty person having grown up being involved with a variety of different sports. Starting with numerous athletics events and Sunday league junior football, to inline roller hockey and ice hockey. Quite a varied mix but mainly involved in team events including the athletics where I was often competing for the City of Sheffield club in the junior league where I’d take on a range of events to gain points for the team.

Despite all this I’d never really considered running as a fun activity (I used to think doing 2 laps of the track as a warmup run was too far!) but discovered in 2018 that I wasn’t too bad at it after taking part in the Sheffield half marathon. A few other half marathons and Round Sheffield Runs followed but it wasn’t until 2022 and completing Manchester marathon that I really got the bug!

It was just after this that I joined Striders as I wanted to get more involved with the sport, and I had seen the amazing support the club would offer their runners out on the Sheffield half marathon and 10K, and I thought I’d like to be involved with that!  I’ve loved being a member of the club so far and it has given me the opportunity to continue my love of team sports with taking part in relays and also opened up new challenges such as cross country.  It has also introduced me a to whole world of new people and great friends that all share the love of running and encouragement for our own goals and achievements!

Unfortunately, I have suffered quite a few injuries in this relatively short time, notably sustaining an achilles tendon rupture in Sept 2024.  However, despite my physical participation being put on hold, it allowed me to get more involved with the club than ever, having become a regular timekeeper down at Malcolm’s track sessions and even joining the club’s committee as Training, Coaches, and Venues secretary.

I’ve really enjoyed helping the club in these ways and I’m super excited to continue in my role as a club captain where amongst many things I can hopefully encourage people to participate in team events, help people find their love for running, or even offer support for anyone going through a difficult time through spells of injury. I know how important it is to have likeminded people around when running isn’t possible and if I can give back the support I’ve received then that would be an amazing thing to do!

Naeem Stevens

I first got into running competitively during university in 2015. Before that, I trained in karate from a young age, but over time began to enjoy the freedom of running more. After my third year, I decided to stop training and competing in karate so I could focus fully on running—and I’ve never looked back. After moving to Sheffield in 2022, I joined Steel City Striders in 2023, and it’s been fantastic to be part of such a welcoming and motivated club.
For the past eight years, I’ve been passionate about relay events and gained valuable experience with well-established clubs such as Cornwall AC and Trafford AC. My favourite events have to be the Northern and National Road Relays—there’s nothing quite like lining up alongside some of the best athletes in the country, even if only for a brief moment! Not many sports give you the chance to compete in the same event as the pros. I believe it’s important for our club to have a strong presence on both the regional and national stage, and relays are a fantastic way to showcase our strength as a team. I’m keen to encourage more members to get involved in these events asthey’re a fab way to experience team spirit and represent the club together.
One of my favourite individual racing experiences was the Rotterdam Marathon in 2024, where I experimented with a higher-mileage training plan (looking back, I’m not sure how I managed it!). It turned out to be my best event on paper and sparked a deeper interest in understanding different training methods and learning more about the sport. Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep improving across the board—from track distances like 1500m, the mile, and 3000m, to road races including 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons, as well as cross-country events. I also hope to encourage other Striders to explore these different disciplines—there’s something for everyone, and it’s a great way to challenge yourself and have fun.
As Club Captain, my goal is to create an environment that’s both competitive and inclusive—where experienced runners can push for their goals while new members feel welcome and supported. Whether you’re chasing PBs, trying your first race, or just looking for a friendly group to run with, there’s a place for you here. Running is for everyone, and I’m looking forward to helping the club grow to new heights. I’m always happy to chat about all things running!