Last updated 9 March 2024
Steve Pairman, President for 2025/26
Your
63 year old president was first persuaded to run a race at the age of 19, a
hilly 10 miler! But it didn’t put him off and a marathon was run within the
year. Since then running has been a major part of his life!
School years sports activities were limited to football and tennis, but he
recalls he was one of the few who actually enjoyed cross country. Not long after
that first marathon, Steve moved into the Bromley area with initial sporting
interest primarily being football where he played for his employer – he became
known as someone who could run and run but without any real technical ability.
Having broken two collar bones in one season it was time to change sports, and a
friend introduced him to Blackheath Harriers – this was some 37 years ago, back
in 1987.
He still is, a very keen runner, albeit not at the front of the pack. A regular
cross-country participant in mob matches and Kent leagues in the winter and road
events in the summer, he also ran a few events on the track, picking up a few
points for the League teams from time to time when teams were (very) short!
Ability wise he would describe himself as a reasonable club runner with a 5k pb
of 17.25, 10k in 36.58 and a half marathon pb of 1.22.56. He now concentrates on
age grade rankings! He has completed over 450 Park Runs – meaning he hopes to
complete the 500th during his presidential year! He has run 25
marathons – regularly falling in and out of love with the event – or should that
be the training? To be fair the longest period between marathons was when his 3
children were growing up. Family wise his obsession is not quite matched: his
wife, Julia, runs Park Runs, and one son, Jon, runs when he can, including the
Paris Half Marathon.
London has been run 6 times with a best of 3:06:57 - plus other marathons in
Scotland, Portugal, Spain, USA , and Japan. 4 Marathon Majors have been run,
leaving the other 2 to be completed later in 2025 to obtain the Abbots Six Stars
medal.
In 2007, he decided to start giving time back to the sport he loves, so
volunteered for the club as Membership Secretary and did a 4 year stint. It is
the balance of running and helping the club that he so enjoys. He was duly made
a Vice President in 2010.
Having left a stressful job in 2022, he is now 75% retired – but his spare time
is partly filled with creating the club’s new admin and payment system, ensuring
the new clubhouse obtained the mandatory need of a licence to sell alcohol along
with other jobs for the finance committee. He also helps organise the Ted Pepper
race, Wednesday Nighter runs, and the Burns Night.
We know he is looking forward to an exciting year for himself and for the Club!
