Member Spotlight: Caroline Bartholomew
Welcome back to our Member Spotlight series! This month, we are thrilled to feature Caroline B, who is coming up on three fantastic years as an Alton Runner. From finding her second chance at running through our Rookie Runners course to winning a club trophy, Caroline’s journey is a brilliant reminder that you don't need to be the fastest runner out there to find your stride - you just need to take that first (and second) step.
The Rapid Fire Five
- How long have you been an Alton Runner? I joined in January 2024, so coming up to 3 years!
- Favourite race or route? I love doing the Farringdon loop from Chawton, running out on the disused railway track, and back over the fields.
- Road or trail? I much prefer trail.
- Ultimate post-run snack? A flat white and an energy bar.
- Running in one word? Achievement.
The Deep Dive
What first got you into running? My partner James is a runner, and I would go along to parkrun with him. One Christmas a couple of years ago, I realised I had been doing parkrun for five years and still couldn’t run the whole way round. That really shocked me, as if someone had told me at the time, "In five years time you still won’t be able to run a whole parkrun," I’d have been horrified.
Luckily, Coach Fran was running her Rookie Runners course that January, so I signed up to that. However, once the course finished I didn’t keep going, so I didn’t build on any of the progress I’d made. When Fran ran the course the following year, she messaged us old rookies to say we could come along too. I realised that was my second chance, and I was determined to make a go of it this time. Luckily, Alton Runners put on lots of sessions, so I just needed to commit to going along regularly, and that would make all the difference.
What is your favourite thing about being a member of Alton Runners? My favourite thing is how welcoming and friendly everyone is. Everyone is there to make their own progress and they encourage you in yours. There feels like no judgement, just positive encouragement.
If someone was "on the fence" about joining a running club, what would you tell them? I feel like many people feel they have to be a really fast runner to join a running club, and that it’s not for them, even though they enjoy running. But actually, there are groups at every stage, and it is a nice, social way to run. When I go to races with Alton Runners, there are still runners at my pace from other running clubs, which makes me reassured it’s normal to run at this pace!
Tell us about a running moment or achievement you’re particularly proud of. The big one has to be winning the Alton Runners Handicap Run, as I won a trophy for it! It was a really fun event as it involved the whole club running together in a race. Our start times were based on our fastest 5k times taken from the previous 3 times we’d run the course. I set off first, and the challenge was to keep that position.
This was the race where I gave it my all. I had recently run a 10k, so I knew I could keep pushing for the whole 5k, whereas previously I would be holding back, worried I’d run out of steam. There is also something about the psychology of being chased that made me keep going as fast as I could! It was a race designed to give slower runners a chance to get some glory, so I’m really glad I tried my best and didn’t let the organisers down.
A Special Shoutout
Caroline also wanted to share a quick thank you to her partner, James, who helped introduce her to the sport. Turning up to your first race can feel daunting, but having James run by her side during her first cross-country race (complete with fears of getting lost in the woods!) and her first 10k gave her the reassuring boost she needed.