This month’s profile is our Road Captain, GT, often spotted running on the fells, road, or flying round local parkruns pushing Oliver in his pram at record speed
March 2024 Gareth Taylor
1. Do you have a nickname?
Just Gaz…….. that I’m aware of.
2. What is your favourite piece of running kit/equipment?
Garmin watch – can’t leave home without it.
3. What is your favourite race and why?
Although I’ve had a few bad days here, it has to be the London Marathon: the build-up, the crowds, the sights & the finish.
4. Any pbs that you are most proud of? (race or distance)
Lancaster 5k: 18.21
Wrexham half marathon: 1.26
London marathon: 3.18
5. What has been your worst running injury?
I’ve been quite lucky regarding injuries but I did pull a muscle in my leg/bum doing some track sessions a few years ago that needed physio.
6. Improving Dasher to keep an eye on?
Paul Conlon – I’m hoping he can come back strong after a difficult few months. Did he mention that he’d had a heart attack???
7. Where is the most exotic place that you have ever been for a run?
Along a beach in Jamaica at sunset, despite being very hot & sweaty.
8. Highlight of your running career so far
I think it has to be finishing London last year with a pb and seeing Reanna & Oliver at the finish, not forgetting Simon who was chief spectator, seeing him at various points too.
9. Any hobbies we don’t know about?
No interesting hobbies – it seems hard enough some days just to fit a run into everyday life.
10. Interesting fact about yourself
I used to be a gliding instructor at weekends. I think I logged nearly 300 hours.
11. Most interesting job (past or present)
I’ve only had one job – straight from school into an apprenticeship (engineering) and I’m still at the same company now, 18 years later.
12. Dasher you admire and why
Got to be Jim Taylor – yes he does some moaning but he’s always there, getting stuck in, promoting the club and running races (and strangely, he’s getting quicker!)
13. Any future running ambition?
Got to be a sub 3 hour marathon at some point.
14. Favourite song on your playlist to run to?
I’ve never run with earphones but I’d choose something like Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger to channel my inner Rocky.
15. Which person, past or present, would you most like to run with?
I don’t think many Dashers will have heard of them but I’d like to do a long run with somebody like Charlie Spedding, Hugh Jones or Eamonn Martin – British runners who won some of the earlier London Marathons.
16. Best thing about the Darwen Dashers
Inclusivity – something for everyone & all abilities.
17. Any running (or other) superstitions?
No, I don’t believe in any of that!
18. Your perfect, indulgent, post run meal
A glass of ice cold coke & some cake. I had a Nando’s after my last marathon and I really enjoyed that too.
19. One piece of advice for a new runner
Take it easy and aim for consistency – stopping & starting often leads to injuries.
20. Sum yourself up in 5 words
Family-man, dedicated, bossy, neat freak
