Dasher of the Month courtesy of Simon Smith
September’s Dasher of the Month is someone you all may have heard of……. Jim Taylor
Jim has had a huge, positive influence on me and many others over the years. When I was a teenager he was my Scout Leader and Karate instructor (don’t mess!), and the Taylors fostered dozens of children, many of whom became good friends. He is Darwen’s definitive living legend! (He also did a profile like this one for me in The Dash magazine over 20 years ago but he can't remember!)
September 2025 Jim Taylor
1. Do you have a nickname?
Jim, Jimmy, James, Titch Taylor, Bandana man.
2. What is your favourite piece of running kit/equipment?
Dashers Buff
3: What’s your favourite race?
The Original Tough guy race in Wolverhampton. Sadly due to H/S it no longer exists.
4: 3 PBs that you’re most proud of
Blackpool 10k 47.44
Manchester Marathon 4.12
Yorkshire off road Marathon 4.40
5: What has been your worst running injury?
I’d just set of from the leisure centre with the beginners in 2018 when I collapsed, hence I now have a pacemaker fitted. I’ve suffered from Long term Covid: my Burnley Parkrun time went from 34.30 to 44.50 in 6 weeks. Took me over a year to recover. Last week I managed 34.44 at Burnley . I also have a problem with skin cancer which restricts me from running in the sun, hence always covering my head. Hence, Bandana man!
6: Improving Dasher to keep an eye on
David Seddon. David gets quicker and quicker without any specific training, except from sleeping almost anywhere.
7: Where is the most exotic place you’ve ran?
Cape Verde
8: Highlight of your running ‘career’ so far
So lucky to still be running after all these years, especially with my family.
9: Any hobbies we don’t know about?
I taught karate for over 25 years - Julie Smith and Simon Smith were students of mine once. I was a Venture Scout Leader and I loved canoeing, climbing, and potholing. I once camped on top of St Peters Church and abseiled down, trying not to put my foot through the clock face.
10: Interesting fact about yourself
Very proud of being a Darrener: My parents separated when I was about 8. My mother moved to St Albans and I went, as they say, from pillar to post many times resulting in attending 2 schools in Darwen and 3 schools in St Albans, having one stepfather, 2 stepmothers and various siblings. When I was 8 my mum and dad fostered a lad called Kevin Cook, but when they split up he was taken away. He was a year younger than me and I have tried to trace him with no luck, but that sent me in the direction of fostering: over the years we fostered about 70 children, hence why even at my age I think I can still relate to children and teenagers.
11: Most interesting job(s) past or present
Trained as a electrician, had my own business for 25 years, worked at Child Action with young children, teenagers and young offenders.
12: Dasher you admire and why?
Brian Tull just turned 80 and he’s still running regularly despite having a pacemaker and only having sight in one eye: that takes courage, especially when there is rough or muddy terrain which you can get on some of these parkruns.
13: Any future running ambitions?
To still be parkrunning into my 90s.
14: Which song on your playlist makes you run faster & further?
This old fart does not listen to music whilst running.
15: Which person past or present would you most like to run with?
I used to run with Ron Hill at Andy O’Sullivan’s races near Rochdale. Once, when running Rivington Pike Fell Race, I managed to beat him on the downhill section to the finish. Then it occurred to me it was only because he was being a bit more sensible coming down but I was more Kamikaze and reckless. At the pub afterwards he was selling one of his books on Marathons. I decided to purchase one. When I had a look at it afterwards, he had written in the inside “Bandana man beat me today, signed Ron Hill”. I lent it out and never got it back so if anyone out there has it?????
16: Best thing about Darwen Dashers.
The camaraderie - running in a group is definitely more beneficial than running solo! The club seems to have a new impetus at the moment so keep it going folks!!!
17: Any running, or other superstitions?
None!
18: Your perfect, indulgent, post run meal
A few pints of cask ale.
19: One piece of advice for a new runner
Don’t expect to much at the start - gradually work up, not more than 10% per week. And remember everyone has knockbacks, just keep going and remember that just being out there doing it is a lot more good for you than sitting at home on the sofa all day! Certainly better for your health! But if injured, don’t push yourself and make it worse!
20: Sum yourself up in 5 words
Loyal, tenacious, caring and old!
My pics: GNR with Tracey; Mark and myself at Green Drive 5 - Mark bringing me in at my first race back after my pacemaker was fitted; The Tough Guy theme was Zulus - we had to run through straw set on fire then jump across a water-filled ditch. One Dasher, Sam, landed on his chest cracking two ribs. Next we had to duck under logs placed on the surface of the water and my Bandana came off. Then the Poppy field Challenge where I caught the top of my head, blood run behind my contact lenses resulting in me running through a red mist. The first aiders wanted me to pull out but I carried on to the finish and beat my previous year’s time by one minute. They put steri-strips on then I went on my night shift! Last pic: Matt and Mark battling it out at Cowm Reservoir 5k - first time Matt beat Mark. I was sidelined and on Marshalling duties, but what a good photo! (Added: Aintree with Matt, Mark and a couple of dodgy photobombers)
