Good Evening Storm Plymouth!! It’s been a little while since I wrote one of these out due to how busy things have been, but I thought it would be a nice way to close down a very special week. Grab a brew ☕️ you could be here a while. 📖

We decided last year we would have to mark the occasion of Storm’s 10th anniversary in some way as it was no mean feat getting to this point. We tasked the social committee with putting on a celebration party for us and we moved a few dates around for the week to make sure there was plenty on offer for everyone. Here’s a little recap of the week that was! 🙌🏻⚡️💜

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆
On Monday, Tina’s morning crew were out n’ about and in the evening we had a special addition of Coach Bee’s Condition Fit followed by the crew heading over for a well earned carvery. 💪🏻😋

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
Tuesday 8th April marked the clubs actual 10th birthday! 🔟🥳
The day started nice and early for me as I was interviewed live on BBC Radio Devon who had heard about the special week we had planned. Most who know me, will know I’m not too keen on the speaking part of being the club chair, so you can imagine the turmoil I was in as I sat waiting for the interview. It started off a little nervy as I tried to refer to notes but once I scrapped that and relaxed, it seemed to go okay and I didn’t disgrace myself or the club, which was a win for me. I’d like to say thank you so much to all the members for your lovely comments, kind words and support both before and after.
Later that day we met at Central Park in the original birthplace of Storm by the clock tower. There were in excess of a hundred Stormies there on Tuesday and we had a few old faces back at the club which was nice to see. The atmosphere throughout the evening was lovely as expected and it was good to have a few head over the Brit afterwards. A great day!

𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
On Wednesday we had Josh’s sunrise group out first thing in the morning and then in the evening we took over the Armada 5K! Storm supplied all the Marshalls required and then some, as well as plenty of Storm Runners racing among the field. People tend to see this as a race for the fast runners but it really isn’t that way. It can be used as a yard stick for any ability runner to track their process across the summer months. I’d really encourage you all to get involved. No Stormie ever gets left behind and no matter what happens you’ll have huge support on the evening. We had some fantastic times among our runners and a few surprised themselves I think. 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️💜⚡️🏁

𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
Thursday’s club night as expected was a little lighter in numbers with the half term holidays and those that had already been busy this week having a night off, but we still had some good groups out and saw some great running as always! 👏🏻🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️😎

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆
Friday was another big day for the club. The Montpelier groups with Cath & Jane were out in the sunshine ☀️ yet again doing their thing and in the evening we had a good old knees up. 🕺🏼💃
I’d like to take a moment to thank the social committee for putting the event on and Storm’s star bakers Tela & Jane for making sure we had some lovely sweet treats to keep us going! 👏🏻🍰🧁
It was a nice evening. Nothing too extravagant, just a load of Stormies from now and then, getting together for a good social, a few drinks and a little boogie. Exactly what we wanted really. 💜⚡️

𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆
Saturday mornings social media was full of parkrun posts despite a few sore heads and it’s brilliant to see so many of you representing the club at these local runs week in week out. 🌳

𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆
Then to finish off the week today’s Sunday morning Captain’s Runch was another success. Lots turned out for the out and back run. Everyone remembered the memo this time and got out and back all in good time lol. Plenty stayed behind for a bite to eat and a good natter afterwards. It really showed the place our club finds itself in today, when I went around the tables and saw all the laughs, banter and smiles. Loved it. 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️💜🥓🍳

What a perfect week I’m sure you’ll all agree! I couldn’t have asked for it to go much better than that. As I keep saying, it’s made me very proud to be your club chair. 😍💜⚡️

On to a few other things of note…

𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 👨🏻‍✈️👩🏻‍✈️
As our club captains Mick & Julie approach the 6 month milestone of their tenure, I’d like to be the first to say how amazing they’ve been so far and to thank them for all the effort they have put into their roles so far. The Cuppa’s and Runch’s have been great fun, well supported and the pair of you have been so present throughout the club this year. Brilliant job! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗗𝘂𝗲 – 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟲
Next up, just a quick reminder to those who haven’t yet sent £20 to the storm account for membership. We have had so many payments coming in this week, keeping Jane and Clare hard at work but there are still plenty who are yet to renew. Be great to have you all on board as club members for another year and if you run regularly with us or like an event it actually pays for itself in the end. 💜💷

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲
As I mentioned, I haven’t done one of these since Xmas, and in the first few months of 2025 we’ve seen many new people arrive at the club. Please let me welcome you all to STORM. I hope you’re all enjoying your Storm journey so far, and I’m looking forward to meeting you all as we move into the warmer months.
Lighter evenings are finally here, and we hope to encourage a few more runners back outdoors who don’t particularly like running during the colder temperatures or the rain. If you haven’t been out in a while, what are you waiting for? Come back for a run and see how you get on. You’ll know already how much you’ll be looked after, the support and encouragement you will receive and it could be the start of your next running story. 🙌🏻💜💪🏻

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝘁
Alongside our club runs, both mornings and evenings, we have some brilliant fitness sessions for you to all take part in. These will really compliment your running and we encourage all members to do a little cross training with the club. Condition fit is a mainstay every week up at George park n ride and is always good fun with the loyal followers! Circuits we do every two weeks which is currently staged at Sir John Hunt. We’d love a bigger attendance at this especially for our new coaches who have recently taken this over. You don’t need to be a club member for this either so if you have friends or family that would enjoy it, then sign em up and bring them along!
We recently asked for expressions of interest for a summer Time Trial programme too so watch this space over the coming week for more info in this. 💪🏻🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️⏱️

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
Thanks to everyone who either donated raffle prizes, bought raffle tickets or had a punt on our grand national sweepstake last week. The total is still being tallied and will let Bee reveal all with that but I know we have made a lot of money across the week for a great cause in the Mayflower Specials group. I really look forward to seeing them again soon and hope we can get plenty down there the next time we volunteer. Well done Josh McGrath and Bee Grunow for all the hard work in sorting this out.

𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀
This year we have had some fantastic races already and already a couple of great days out with the team. Exeter First Chance in January was superb and a real taste of things to come in 2025. We are pretty much in race season now so i would like to wish you the best of luck in chasing your goals if you are running events soon. Remember at storm we are all about finish lines, not so much finish times and will be proud of you just for getting it done! 💪🏻🏁🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️
The Plymouth events will be along soon and we will have details of our plans closer to the time. Please also take a look at the other club races, in particular, the Ivybridge 10k is one we have always loved since the early days and is achievable for all runners.

Think I’ve probably rambled enough for this one, so I’ll save any more for the summer. A very special week as a Stormie. Lots of fun and laughter as always with some running thrown in by our 𝗦ocial 𝗧eam 𝗢f 𝗥unning 𝗠achines 😜. I hope you all have a lovely Easter break. Don’t eat too much chocolate but be sure to enjoy some well earned time off with families and friends. 🐣🍫

What a club. Storm Plymouth at its very best this week and so far through 2025! 💜⚡️💪🏻

Regards
David McCarthy
Storm Chair 👨🏻‍💼💜⚡️