Dasher of the Month - Phil Seddon

The Dasher Profiles are back with a runner that always delivers – Phil Seddon, Darwen’s finest postman 

April 2026 Philip Seddon

1. Do you have a nickname?

No, just Phil.

2. What is your favourite piece of running kit/equipment?

I always wear gloves, whether in freezing conditions or blazing sunshine! (me too, Phil )

3: What’s your favourite race?

Paphos Marathon in Cyprus as I raced there with David (I was an hour behind him) & London Marathon which I’ve been lucky enough to run 6 times, and my sister can watch as she lives there.

4: Any PBs that you’re proud of?

Oulton Park Marathon 3h 37min

Stockport Half Marathon 1.42.13

Quirang 10k 42.58

All unachievable these days I’m afraid.

5: What has been your worst running injury?

A broken kneecap from when I used to pay football. I tore knee ligaments when jogging and that required surgery so will always be debilitating. The drugs I take alongside my heart pacemaker also make me constantly fatigued.

6: Improving Dasher to keep an eye on

At the risk of being biased, David, but also Ruth, Diane & Josh.

7: Where is the most exotic place you have run?

Paphos in Cyprus, Adeje in Tenerife, the Isle of Skye where I lived, and Cape Verde.

8: Highlight of your running ‘career’ so far

Running the 3 Towers Ultra (43 miles) for Norm, with Viki a few years ago. I finished at 8.00pm then ran a 4hr Marathon in Chester the following morning!

9: Any hobbies we don’t know about?

It’s not a hobby but I volunteer in a bar a few times a year in Tenerife, for feeding the homeless. Some return regularly, some sadly do not.

10: Interesting fact about yourself

I was scouted as a schoolboy by Preston North End and trained alongside World Cup winners Bobby Charlton (manager at the time) and Nobby Stiles. Something England win never win again in my lifetime. The reserves used to play on the 1st team ground so I’ve played at some fantastic stadiums with hardly any crowd. I played semi-pro for a few years in my late teens & early 20s.

11: Most interesting job(s) past or present

I used to work for a Fire Prevention firm which cleaned all the ducting in cafes & restaurants so they could get a trading certificate. As I was the smallest, I was the one who had to crawl through the ducting to scrape off the fat by hand. Nice!

12: Dasher you admire and why?

Jim, who is a legend. Martin Oldfield is different class. Also Ady, Sarah Marsden and former Dasher Kerry – they know why.

13: Any future running ambitions?

Another London Marathon.

14: Which song on your playlist makes you run faster & further?

I don’t run to music but if I did it would be Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Doors & Metallica.

15: Which person past or present would you most like to run with?

Louise Fairfax from Tasmania who I met in Skye. A remarkable runner with a tragic story.

16: Best thing about Darwen Dashers.

They are a fun group, from Jim’s ad-hoc routes to Ruth’s quotes & Diane’s sweets.

17: Any running, or other superstitions?

Wear gloves. They keep you warm. You can never be too warm.

18: Your perfect, indulgent, post run meal

A full English. A banana milk shake is also welcome.

19: One piece of advice for a new runner

You don’t have to move up the distances – stay with shorter races if you prefer them. It’s better than TV.

20: Sum yourself up in 5 words

A helpful, encouraging, kind loner (but that’s for others to judge).