Dasher of the Month courtesy of Simon Smith
This month’s Star Dasher is our new Club Treasurer, Dashers’ Parkrun Championship Co-ordinator, Christmas Party Quizmaster & all-round top bloke and fabulous wordsmith, Ian Thomson. Enjoy!
May 2025 Ian Thomson
1. Do you have a nickname?
I’m sure there were many behind my back but Tommo was the most commonly used at school. Nothing very original really.
2. What is your favourite piece of running kit/equipment?
Probably my trusty knee straps. I have dodgy old-man knees so never run without them. I’ve no idea whether they actually work but they are a bit like Piglets magic earmuffs (IYKYK) and I would be lost without them.
3: What’s your favourite race?
This is an easy one. In January 2024, I ran a thing called the Dopey Challenge in DisneyWorld, Florida. It was a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon & Full Marathon on consecutive days (48.6 miles in total). It was the BEST experience ever, running through all the Parks, Character meet-and-greets along the route and even running through the Castle as dawn broke! Just a magical experience.
4: 3 PBs that you’re most proud of
My PB’s are pretty laughable compared to most of the Dashers but you get more value as a slower runner I say! My best plodding efforts are:
Clermont 5k parkrun, Florida 28:05 – never get near that again!
Ribble Valley 10k 51:27 – ditto…
Great North West ½ Marathon 2:04:58 – ditto…
London Marathon 5:09:29 – maybe….?
5: What has been your worst running injury?
Am I allowed 2? One actually happened on a rainy Dashers club night when I tripped on some scaffolding outside a house and broke my elbow. Fortunately, it was a clean break so no surgery needed but to add insult to injury my wife and daughters were off to Paris for the weekend the following day so I had to fend for myself with it!
And if I’m allowed 2, I had a wobble after the Manchester Half a few years ago and was blue-lighted to hospital. Turns out I had chronic A-Fib so had to have a procedure to stop my heart and restart it again (Control-Alt-Delete). Anyway, that was successful and Mrs T says the most surprising thing was that I actually had a heart! (rude…)
6: Improving Dasher to keep an eye on
I’m a parkrun geek as you know so I would have to say Jez Turner has been remarkable this year. His tsunami of PBs is so impressive and he is deservedly leading the Championship. Other than Jez, Diane Dudgeon is consistently excellent and David Seddon has so much untapped potential – if he trained he would be frightening.
7: Where is the most exotic place you’ve ran? (I have 2!)
Not sure about exotic but Manila, Philippines was definitely one of the most interesting – and dangerous. The streets are crazy and traffic lights are optional it seems, particularly for the thousands of mopeds that are everywhere! Crossing a busy multi-lane road involves just walking across at a steady pace so the bikes all go round you (without slowing down). If you hesitate or stop you get hit! Terrifying!
8: Highlight of your running ‘career’ so far
Just still being vertical and able to run is a blessing. But the aforementioned Dopey was definitely the highlight…..oh, and being a Dasher of course.
9: Any hobbies we don’t know about?
Most of my hobbies involve sport of some kind (running, NFL, Racing and football – Middlesbrough FC) but you all know that I guess. One little known fact is that but also I’m a big Country Music fan (which is starting to be cool now which upsets me!). I love to get my “yee-haw” on, especially as many of the big Nashville stars come over here now.
10: Interesting fact about yourself (I have 2!)
I always hated the ice breakers that we have probably all suffered at work where you had to tell the group a fun fact about yourself. I always used to say that once I was the youngest person on the planet….(which was true). However, I suppose a more relevant one is that my Grandmother used to be 1980s legend Chris Rea’s next-door neighbour. I knew him, but not well, but he married a girl from my old school, which is where the song ‘Stainsby Girls’ came from!
11: Most interesting job(s) past or present
I am an active Magistrate for Lancashire and sit in the Courts in Blackburn, Burnley, Preston and Lancaster – so behave yourselves! It’s definitely the most interesting job I’ve ever done (even though it’s a voluntary position) – you definitely see all human life!
12: Dasher you admire and why?
Any and every Dasher who puts on a pair of shoes and gets out there deserves the utmost respect in my book, so I couldn’t single anyone out. I suppose if pushed those crazy enough to fly up (and particularly down) the fells put me in awe.
13: Any future running ambitions?
Just to stay vertical really. I’m doing the GNR and another Disney Challenge (5k/10k/Half on consecutive days) later this year to support Parkinson’s UK (my Mum died after a long battle with Parkinson’s) so I’m getting my plug for donations in early! Other than that, do I have another marathon in me……..? Who knows?
14: Which song on your playlist makes you run faster & further?
‘Go The Distance’ (Hercules soundtrack) is my marathon song. I also get motivated by ‘Going Home’ by Mark Knopfler which is the GNR theme tune.
15: Which person past or present would you most like to run with?
I would be far too slow to run with most people but hypothetically, ex- Olympian Jeff Galloway who popularised the run-walk-run technique, would be amazing. Also, a guy called John Ball – Parkinson’s hero who was still running marathons and fundraising well into his 80’s. An inspiration and a lovely guy.
16: Best thing about Darwen Dashers.
When I decided to join a running club, I emailed a few locally but Becky Jepson was the only one who bothered to speak to me personally and introduce me to the Dashers. That encapsulated our little throng – friendly, accepting of all abilities and full of just straightforward good people.
17: Any running, or other superstitions?
I always put my left sock on first – absolutely no idea why!
18: Your perfect, indulgent, post run meal
After a long race (half or full) I always have a craving for KFC and a strong tea. Can’t beat it – although KFC now only does skin-on fries and I don’t eat them on principle (lazy, dirty potato work) so maybe I need to review this?
19: One piece of advice for a new runner
Join the Dashers (obviously) but also just do what you are comfortable with – don’t think you have to run a marathon or do 6-minute miles. It’s OK to be a slower runner – oh, and parkrun is right up there with cheese bread and the wheel as the greatest invention ever, so visit as many as you can
20: Sum yourself up in 5 words
Dogs, Running, Family, Disney = Happy
(Mrs T is disgruntled that ‘family’ only came third but frankly, she should be grateful it made the cut)
