top of page

THE TEAM

Graeme Woodward
Graeme is a UK Athletics Level 3 Performance coach, is an Accredited UKSCA Strength and Conditioning Coach with UKSCA and has a MSc in Strength and Conditioning with research interests in 5km time trials, stiffness, reactive strength and using GPS systems. He is also a Lead coach education tutor, assessor and internal verifier for British Athletics, the Fell Running Association and the Rugby Football League. He has coached athletes and players to international level in a range of sports, previously at Halifax RLFC and now Lead S&C Coach for St Helens RLFC Womens team and a coach mentor for Yorkshire Sport. Graeme enjoys everything outdoors, from fellrunning, skiing, mountaineering to sub aqua, and leads on all running, biomechanics, athlete development and strength and conditioning.


Ian Blackburn 
Ian has a background in competitive cycling, especially cyclo cross and is a highly experienced physiotherapist, including lecturing at Leeds Beckett University. He runs ElitePhysio, has experience at several Olympics and Tour de France races in addition to working with athletes across a range of sports. Ian leads on physiotherapy and medical input into Optimize events.


Karen Darke
Somewhat an expert in overcoming challenges, Karen finds much of her inspiration through outdoor adventure. She was a keen runner and mountaineer before becoming paralysed in a rock-climbing accident. She has hand-cycled in various corners of the world, including Himalaya and the length of the Japanese archipelago. She is currently a full-time athlete with the British Paracycling Team, won a gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. Karen leads on sport psychology in the training camps.


Jon Emberton
Jon has competed for England in orienteering and also races on the fells, bikes, in sportives and adventure events. He runs his own cycle maintenance business, CraggVelo, and has organised several cycling and adventure races. Jon oversees all bike related support and navigation on training camps.

Steve Pearson

Stephen is a former Senior Lecturer in Sports Science & Leisure Studies and currently a level 4 Endurance Coach and accredited British Athletics Coach Education Tutor and Assessor.  He is currently coaching and mentoring athletes to achieve national selection and international success for modern pentathlon, track and fell running events. Currently the Head Coach at Horwich RMI Harriers and Run Coach for Rivington Tri Club, he is actively involved in coaching athletes of all abilities in all endurance events from 5k park runs, ultra-distance and triathlon events.  As an athlete, Stephen has enjoyed success in the Capricorn O Event, The Rock & Run 2 day event and the SLMM.  He has also completed the Bob Graham round in a respectable 22hours.  He is an experienced and qualified Mountain Leader and is able to lead groups into outdoor environments that will challenge both experienced and novice athletes.

Pauline May
Pauline is a Specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist, fell runner and triathlete. She is a qualified fell run leader with British Athletics and is a Navigation tutor with the Fell Runners Association. Pauline placed 3rd at the Buttermere Sailbeck fell raceand was in the 1st team for the Lakeland 50 in 2016, completed 5 Ironman distance races including overall 9th female and age group winner at Challenge Henley 2011 and has a Long distance world championships age group bronze medal from 2013. Multi talented, she is the former captain of the Irish International Canoe Polo Team at World and European Championships 2000-2007 and was in the  Irish Kayak Slalom team.

Jenny Hopkinson
Jenny is a sports massage therapist, and runs, bikes and swims in her spare time. She is a qualified run leader with UK Athletics and has represented the GB age group team at both triathlon and duathlon. In 2017, Jenny completed the Lakesman iron-distance triathlon finishing 8th overall and first in her age group.

bottom of page