G.S. Running Club is the umbrella organization that organizes the following individual programs.

(To participate in these programs, all athletes, must be a member of the Running Club by joining and paying the required annual fee)

1.    G.S. Running Club

  G.S. Running Club is an inclusive developmental running program, for youth aged four to nine that uses a play-based philosophy to engage children in running and overall fitness. The program is dedicated to ensuring each child has fun while developing correct running biomechanics, breathing techniques, strength, balance, and coordination. G.S. Running Club also allows children to develop sportsmanship, compassion, and teamwork. Training occurs two times per week. 

2.    G.S. Elite 

G.S. Elite is an inclusive junior running program that evolved from G.S. Running Club and is for youth aged 10-16. This program is for athletes who are looking to pursue competitive track events (100 meters-1500 meters) both locally and overseas. Using a periodization model athletes participate in a variety of training variables to ensure optimal fitness at competition time. Training occurs three times per week. 

3.    G.S. Prep 

The G.S. Prep is a multi-sport strength and conditioning (six-week) training program for youth 12-18 years. This is a unique opportunity for child athletes to enhance performance by increasing strength, power, speed, agility, and flexibility. The program is beneficial for athletes wanting to participate in local and/or overseas competitive sports including football, cross country, track, tennis, swimming, cycling etc. 

Coaches 

George Smith is the co-founder of G.S Running Club, a local postman known to most as Uncle George. He is an advocate for health and fitness, especially in children. He coached his son, Chayce, and neighborhood youth, some of whom would be deemed at-risk for antisocial behavior in athletics to keep them off the streets. He mentored some of these same youth right up into their adulthood. George ensured that every youth he trained was able to catch, throw, skip, kick, and even play marbles in addition to running. Several of the current leading junior and senior athletes trained under G.S. Running Club i.e. David Darrell, Khari Sherrieff, Myeisha Sherrieff, Gladwin Benjamin, Iyon Simmons, Kalise Wade, Evans Welch and Sanchaz Smith to name a few.

Co-founder and Coach Chayce or Mr. Smith as he is known to his students, has been teaching physical education for the last 10 years for the Ministry of Education. He is currently teaching at one of Bermuda’s first Parish Schools, Francis Patton. Coach Chayce is one of Bermuda’s top local runners holding records locally (First Bermudian to podium in the Elite Front Street Mile and 20K road race record 1:10:32) and abroad while studying at St. Augustine’s College under the former Olympic Track Coach George “Pup” Williams (Indoor CIAA Conference Championship MVP 3 years in a row, All American Division 2 Collegiate 800 meters, Regional qualifier for Division 2 Cross Country). Coach Smith’s athletic career started as a junior triathlete with Tri-heads under Neil De St Croix and Dave Morrison. Coach Chayce won Mrs. T’s World Junior triathlon in Chicago two years in a row. Most recently Coach Chayce won a 5K Turkey Trott in New York in November 2023.

 In addition to coaching for GS Running Club, Coach Chayce is one of the track coaches for the Special Olympics Team Bermuda (SOB) who traveled to Germany last year where athletes won several medals. The SOB Track Team also participated in the 2024 local USATF Grand Prix Bermuda to showcase their talents coached by Coach Chayce.

Coach Chayce enjoys developing runners/athletes through play and easily taps into each child’s motivators. Coach Chayce is a firm believer in inclusive sports thus GS Running Club has trained children with Autism, ADHD, and other cognitive challenges. G.S. Running Club and Elite had several members participate in the Fastest Kid on the Rock where Kahlila Daley was the winner and Iyon Simmons came third.

Admin Support and Assistant Coach Tanika is a pediatric occupational therapist (OT) whose expertise in gross, fine motor, sensory, and cognition provides valuable assets for athletes. In her role as a pediatric OT, Tanika works with children with varying diagnoses including autism, ADHD, and sensory processing dysfunction. Tanika believes in inclusion and that ALL children should have the opportunity to engage in play and participate in meaningful activities, especially sports. Tanika is an activist for the health and wellness of children.

In addition to being an assistant coach for GS Running Club, Coach Tanika is one of the Newest Directors of The Special Olympics Board Bermuda and a track coach for the Special Olympics Team Bermuda (SOB). Tanika traveled to Germany last year with the team, where athletes won several medals. The SOB Track Team also participated in the 2024 local USATF Grand Prix Bermuda to showcase their talents.