Pizza, paces, and plans: The 2026 Fulham Running Club AGM

On Monday 26 January, the Fulham RC community gathered at ARC West London for our annual AGM. It was an evening of reflection, strategy, and inspiration as we looked back on a successful 2025 and mapped out the road ahead for our 22nd year.

Of course, no club meeting is complete without fuel; a huge thank you to Tops Pizza for keeping us fed with plenty of slices while we plotted the future of the club!

2025 highlights and the road ahead

Our Chair, Rick, opened the evening by highlighting FRC’s unique position as the only local England Athletics club in Hammersmith. As provided in Martin's update, with England Athletics membership now standing at 246 runners and a near-perfect 50/50 gender split, the club is in a very strong position.

However, growth brings new questions. Rick challenged us to consider how we can better serve everyone, from beginners to elites. One exciting project on the horizon is the Fulham Football Club Foundation (FFCF) Riverside on Saturday 18 April—a collaborative event running from Craven Cottage to Brentford FC—which will offer a fantastic opportunity for FRC to support the local community through marshaling and participation.

We also are saying some heartfelt goodbyes to two long-standing departing ExCo members: Lauren (Treasurer), and Martin (Secretary). Their hard work has been instrumental in getting us where we are today, and their departures open up exciting opportunities for new volunteers to shape the club’s future. Claire (Coaching) also is stepping down for personal reasons.

Operations, development, and welfare

The committee provided several key updates regarding the "engine room" of the club:

• Coaching: Ed (standing in for Claire) discussed our weekly sessions and the need for more qualified coaches. The club is keen to support members in obtaining LiRF (Leader in Running Fitness) and CiRF (Coach in Running Fitness) qualifications, with the club subsidising costs. There will be a form to follow for those interested in applying.

• Treasurer: Lauren reported that the club generated a healthy surplus for 2025. As a non-profit, our goal is to reinvest these funds into the membership—leading to some creative brainstorming later in the evening!

• Welfare: Emma and Tim emphasised our commitment to being a "friendly, responsive, and courteous" club. Plans are in motion to join the EA Talk & Run programme, and they are looking for "Mental Health Champions" to lead the way.

The "Dragon’s Dash": Investing in our future

In a "Dragons' Den" style session (fueled by more Tops Pizza), members broke into groups to pitch ideas for spending the club surplus. The creativity was flowing as fast as the pepperoni, with suggestions including:

• Group physio and rehab clinics.

• Strength and conditioning sessions.

• A club sports day and picnic.

• Socials featuring celebrity athlete guest speakers

• Community socials to raise awareness of FRC (coffee carts and miles)

Pace & perspectives: Q&A with Sophie Raworth and Alice Riddell-Webster

The highlight of the night was an exclusive Q&A with two of our own: Sophie Raworth and Alice Riddell-Webster.

Sophie, a veteran of the Marathon des Sables and all seven World Majors, and Alice, who recently stunned the running world with a 2:56 marathon at age 58, shared their secrets on longevity and motivation.

Alice spoke candidly about returning to running after a ten-year break to raise a family, while Sophie compared the "mental torture" of the desert to the pressure of city marathons. Both emphasized the importance of strength training—specifically heavy weights—to stay resilient through the menopause and beyond. Their best tip for those "rainy days" when the sofa looks tempting? Just get out the door; the hardest part is always the first mile.

Closing remarks: Shaping our community (and actions!)

As Rick closed the evening, he reminded us that volunteering and inclusivity are the heart of Fulham RC. The more people that volunteer, the stronger this club will continue to be. There are several ways you can get involved right now:

• ExCo & Leadership: Following the departures of our Treasurer, Secretary, and Coaching Manager, we have vital seats at the table waiting for fresh perspectives.

• Coaching & Leading: Sign up for LiRF or CiRF qualifications to help lead our weekly sessions and share your passion for running.

• FFC Foundation Fun Run: The Foundation will need a large team of marshals for the event in April.

For all three areas above, there will be forms to follow to register your interest in volunteering at Fulham Running Club and supporting your community.

Whether you’re a 2:50 marathoner or a 5k fun-runner, there is a place for you to lead and contribute.