This month’s Dasher of the Month is the legendary Iain Asher. Iain is an accomplished sportsman and a fabulous raconteur, especially when he has a pint in his hand in the Sunnyhurst
October 2024 Iain Asher
1. Do you have a nickname?
With a surname like Asher, I’ve been Flash, Slasher, Ash, Asher-the-Dasher - this list goes on!
2. What is your favourite piece of running kit/equipment?
La Sportiva Mutant Shoes.
3. What is your favourite race and why?
The Tour Of Pendle. It’s a local classic. The weather’s usually bad, and at almost 1500m, the amount of climb is pretty big for a 16 mile race.
4. Any pbs that you are most proud of? (race or distance)
I’ve run a couple of 100k races which were great, The Fellsman and the Gorce Ultra Tour in Poland. Probably running 75 miles in 21 hours to raise funds for the Manchester Transplant Unit, in memory of a friend, is the thing I’m most proud of.
5. What has been your worst running injury?
Always the most recent one! I’ve arthritis in my feet now, so that’s a bit limiting.
6. Improving Dasher to keep an eye on?
Josh Turner. A very quick lad, who’s built to go fast over the fells and mountains for long distances.
7. Where is the most exotic place that you have ever been for a run?
Four Dashers did Canmore Parkrun in the Rockies this summer which was great.
8. Highlight of your running career so far
Running the Old County Tops in 2019 with Amy Freeman is probably the highlight.
9. Any hobbies we don’t know about?
I love ski touring and I’m learning to speak Norwegian.
10. Interesting fact about yourself
I used to be a knight at Camelot Theme Park and was once Rik Mayal’s stunt double in a film called Claire De Lune.
11. Most interesting job (past or present)
Ski bum, when I was 19. I cleaned apartments, put up posters, delivered films to cinemas and smuggled skis into France to fund a season in Chamonix.
12. Dasher you admire and why
I really admire new members who complete the beginners’ course and graduate to the club runs. What many of them achieve developing from non-runners into club runners is just brilliant!
13. Any future running ambition?
Just to stay sound and uninjured.
14. Favourite song on your playlist to run to?
I listen to lots of music at home and in the car, but never running. The sound of suffering keeps me company!
15. Which person, past or present, would you most like to run with?
Just the Merry Dancers who make up the fell running section of the club. The nicest, kindest, most interesting bunch of self-declared misfits that ever got wet and muddy together on Darwen’s Moors.
16. Best thing about the Darwen Dashers
It’s a really friendly, supportive club. Also the combination of running, then drinking beer and talking rubbish in the Sunny is hard to beat.
17. Any running (or other) superstitions?
Nope, I’m not superstitious.
18. Your perfect, indulgent, post run meal
Guinness.
19. One piece of advice for a new runner
Try to stay injury free by doing lots of strength and conditioning, in addition to the running.
20. Sum yourself up in 5 words
Unable to count.
