Listed below are the fully trained coaches within Steel City Striders.

Feel free to contact them with any training questions you may have or come along to a session to find out more.

Peter Brown has been a UK Athletics Level 2 Endurance Coach for over thirty years whilst he has been a member of Steel City Striders since 2000.

In 1984, wanting to get fit enough to go winter hill walking in the Cairngorms, he began by making the common error of many starting in the sport by trying to run a marathon. But this was the era of Coe, Cram and Ovett and he then tried middle distance which was perhaps unwise for somebody with a fundamental lack of speed ending up mainly running the steeplechase as no one else at his club wanted to do it at the time. Back in the day his pb’s were 16:42 (5000m), 34:55 (10k) and 77:41 (half marathon). He never really got the trip for the marathon despite having completed eighteen of them his best being 2:53:51. Obviously he can’t get anywhere near these times nowadays.

Nevertheless, this track orientated background has proved to be extremely valuable and its discipline underpins Peter’s coaching philosophy: if you want to run a good marathon, then you need to run a good half and if you want to run a good half then a decent 10k time is essential. Scornful of short cuts, this is all based on hard work and good old fashioned mileage with his personal training regime being defined by a regular pattern of Hills or Long Reps on Tuesday, Track on Thursday and a Long Run at the weekend. He regularly uses the word consistency.

Peter looks after track sessions at Woodbourn Road every Thursday evening.

Away from the track, Peter’s alter ego is that of archaeologist with a particular attraction to sewer lamps so beware if you ever go on a long run with him.

Ian Stinson has been a member of Steel City Striders since 2006. He began running socially while working in London but, really took running more seriously on return to his native Yorkshire. Ian has raced in many of the local road races over the years as well as a few international marathons – ‘a great way to see a city’. Recently he has moved to doing more off road races and particularly enjoys the fells of the Dark Peak. Ian completed his first two day mountain marathon with other Striders in 2015.

He has completed the Coach in Running Fitness qualification (CIRF) and is grateful to the club for giving him the opportunity and supporting him through the course.

Ian looks after the Tuesday night speed sessions for the club at Millhouses Park. These are aimed at runners who are new to speed work but want to improve their times in 5k, 10k and half marathon events.

Ian organised the cross country teams for Steel City for many years and still enjoys turning out at the cross country league events which he believes are great races for developing both strength and speed during the winter.

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.

Malcolm is lead coach for the 7pm Thursday track group.

Cara Hanson

Tessa Bainbridge

I’ve always had an interest in personal fitness, whether it being in HIIT classes, Spin, or running, I’ve always led an active lifestyle. With running, I competed in a few races when living away from Sheffield, but my running journey went on hiatus to start a family. Looking for a new challenge, I became a qualified Personal Trainer during lockdown in 2020, and when things opened up again, resumed running in 2021. 

Having joined Striders shortly afterwards, my first year in the club was eventful. I donned the green and gold in cross-country, improved my 10k times, and completed not only my first marathon (Chester), but my first ultra marathon (Ladybower 50) too. Along the way I learned a lot about myself, the running community, and running. I’m more sensible these days, and don’t sign up to every race, but I do still like some crazy challenges, normally on a bit of a whim (sorry to everyone I drag along on them). 

I am interested in running for both physical and mental fitness, and in 2023 I was nominated the Striders Mental Health Champion. Please do reach out to me if you’re ever struggling. 

Another area of interest is in nutrition and the relationship between food and running. Whether this is for performance or weight management, I am fascinated by how the two connect and interact.

As for coaching, I was given the opportunity by the club Chair (thank you Helen), to work towards my CiRF in 2023, passing in September. I particularly enjoy supporting those starting out on their running journey, or returning from their own hiatus, through courses like 5-10k. But I welcome the opportunity to work with anyone in the club by providing advice, guidance, and sharing my knowledge about running, food, and life.