OUR TEAM

ADAM NODWELL

Founder / Race Director

Hi there! I am a 30 something year old trail runner who would probably be described in the business as a ‘mid packer’ meaning i’m not fast, or slow, I just enjoy being outside at a ‘modest velocity’.

I first discovered running after I graduated in graphic arts and design at Leeds Beckett (nee Metropolitan) University in 2008 with a degree and beer belly. Like many when i suddenly found myself aged around 25 and heading in the wrong direction (a good friend described me retrospectively as ‘a bit doughy’). Soon after that I entered the Leeds 10k in 2010 which led me onto my first marathon (London) in 2011. That was followed by another (Loch Ness), and another (Brighton) in 2012. At this time I honestly didn’t really have much of a clue what I was doing with regards to training or diet (I still don’t).

Unfortunately all things running related came to abrupt end in February 2013 when I shattered my heel in four places after jumping off a stage at a gig. It wouldn’t be until the following year I would even attempt to run again.

So as old wounds healed I would go on to take running seriously once more and in 2015 joined a wonderful local club in Kirkstall Harriers who introduced me to a whole new world of races beyond that of those expensive big city runs. Being a club runner really won me over, I loved the community aspect of it, the small local races, the big local races, the fell races, the ultra races, and the cake. In 2018 after naturally focussing more on trail running I would go on to join North Leeds Fell Runners who I currently run for off road races.

Using my love for running and my background in putting on punk gigs I put on my first race in 2016. I chose one of my favourite training routes and gave it a catchy name, I created The Holly Hustle and loads of people got lost! Thankfully the following year people mostly didn’t get lost and I decided to continue Great Owl Running events for what will hopefully be many years to come!

Alongside race directing I got a bit handy with a GoPro and started to document my adventures. As of 2018 this is another arm of Great Owl running and I hope to be making more running films including race reports, runner flythroughs, personal vlogs and whatever takes my fancy creatively speaking. If you would like to collaborate on something or have any fun ideas for me then please do get in touch.

I lived in Vienna Austria for the majority of 2018 exploring some of the local trials and mountains there before returning to Leeds in June 2019 and continue to enjoy the UK running scene with a wander lust for some fun adventures in the future.

I am constantly coming up with new ideas to expand Great Owl Running, if you have any ideas and want to get involved get in touch.

MARSHALS

A Race director can never have enough race marshals to make sure our runners are safe and know where to go.

If you would still like to be outdoors on a crisp morning then come and marshal for us!

All marshalls get a free race place to cash in on later or to giveaway to a friend, spouse or family member + a £20 donation to their running club.

marshalling is a great way to save on an entry fee. We will always give away free places for marshalling and depending on the size of the event we might even pay you or a chosen charity!

If you are interested, please get in touch!