Health Club

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Meet The Team: Jacob Steel

02nd June 2026
Jacob Steel.png

What is your role at Goodwood and what do you enjoy most about working on the estate?

I work as a leisure and gym floor attendant at the Health Club and also lead an early morning staff run club every Thursday. What I enjoy most is getting to know our wonderful members and meeting new people every day. The estate is a fantastic place to be active and there are so many beautiful routes to run. The iconic hill climb can be a challenge, but reaching the top always brings a real sense of achievement.

What inspired you to take on the challenge of running a marathon straight into a half marathon in Finland?

I discovered a love for running towards the end of 2024 and it very quickly became my main passion and focus. I loved the mental health benefits I had from it, and I also enjoyed the challenge that comes from trying to beat your previous best or conquer extra-long distances like marathons. When I turned 30 earlier this year, I wanted to set myself a challenge that I could look back and be proud of on in years to come. As running has become such a large part of my life, that's why I decided doing 30 running events would be the challenge.

After doing my first Marathon in March in Barcelona, I was looking for something to up the ante. That’s when I came across the Helsinki Double, an event where you run both a marathon and a half marathon on the same day, with the bonus of earning three medals. There's nothing quite like the feeling of doing something really challenging and accomplishing it. I enjoy pushing my body to its limits and discovering what it’s capable of, so taking part in these kinds of events feels like the perfect challenge for me.

What advice would you give to members training for endurance events like running?

My best advice for endurance events is to be as consistent as possible with your training and build up gradually to avoid injuries. Incorporate a couple of gym sessions each week to build strength, focus on fuelling your body properly both during training and on race day and make recovery a key priority. I’d also recommend getting as close to 8 hours sleep each night so your body can repair and be ready for the next session. 

What is a wellness habit you swear by?

I would say say my main wellness habit is making sure I stay properly hydrated throughout the day. Drinking enough water helps with my body's overall function each day and I notice a difference when I don't drink enough.