Get to know a Dasher with 20 questions
This is the 50th Dasher Profile since its Facebook reincarnation and this month’s star Dasher is the legendary, international superstar, Jonny Bromilow
July 2026 Jonny Bromilow
1. Do you have a nickname?
My mother called me Jonathan. Friends usually go with Jonny. At work it’s Jon or Brommers. At 14, I missed out on playing for Eagley Cricket Club 2nds because the coach rang the house asking for “Jon” and my mum told him nobody lived there by that name. Career over before it even started.
2. What is your favourite piece of running kit/equipment?
Probably my Garmin. Although it’s less of a sports watch and more of an emotionally abusive life coach. It’s known by a few that I can’t finish a run unless it’s rounded up to the next mile, and afterwards it tells me I’m “unproductive” and need to “move more.” Cheers Garmin.
3: What’s your favourite race?
I’m not sure I’ll ever say I have a favourite race. There aren’t many I’ve enjoyed enough to go back and do again. To be honest, I’m still not entirely convinced I actually like running… I mostly do it for the beer afterwards. My preferred distance is the Marathon and having run over 100 of them, I still don’t enjoy them! If I’m really pushed for one, it would be the Walt Disney Marathon. Great fun running round the parks and stopping for photos with all the characters…. It was also the most expensive event I’ve ever done. I did the Dopey challenge, which is a 5k on Thursday, 10k Friday, Half Marathon Saturday, finishing with the full Marathon on the Sunday. 4 races for just shy of £700.
4: Any PBs that you’re proud of?
I’ve never really been obsessed with times: the harder you run the more it hurts so where is the fun in that? For me I only got the ‘buzz’ of finishing when the distance increased. I say this in the past tense as I don’t think I’ll ever go more than 100 miles ever again.
That said, I’m proud of these:
Virginia Beach Marathon – 2:58:42
Preston parkrun – 18:54
For distance, Race Across Scotland – 215 miles (or 227 if you include the “scenic route”) in 74:10:03
5: What has been your worst running injury?
I’ve been lucky enough to avoid any major running injuries. Cycling however!!
A couple spring to mind. The first when I hit the back of a bus and ended up cut to ribbons on a barbed wire fence just past the Royal in Tockholes. I made it to Darwen Health Centre where I asked if someone was able to bandage up my arm. The nurse’s reply was, “that’s the least of your problems, I can see your collar bone!”
Then there was a gravel ride crash in Pennsylvania. I’d been told the path from the top of the mountain was very smooth and straight, which was true, however I found the only corner when looking ahead and left said path, front wheel dropping into a ditch. According to Strava the bike went from around 45mph to 0 instantly – me on the other hand didn’t and took flight. I was extremely lucky not to hit a tree or go over the edge, which was a massive drop! However, it did result in torn shoulder tendons and five broken ribs. Lung function tests since have shown I’d lost 30% lung capacity due to scar tissue. I’m relieved to say this is recovering.
There is another part to this story, however this will not go to press and only gets told to a chosen few. All I can say is both these incidents were my own stupid fault, so unfortunately, I can’t put the blame on anyone else.
6: Improving Dasher to keep an eye on
I’ve been away from the Dashers for a few years and other commitments have stopped me doing many evening runs or races. During this period there has been a big change in people running at the club. That said, I’ve run with Josh… well, technically I’ve watched Josh disappear into the distance. He’s basically a gazelle on hills and just keeps improving and is now taking victory after victory. Then there’s young David. I think I’ve only met him the once, but judging by Facebook he’s evolving into something frighteningly quick.
7: Where is the most exotic place you have run?
Darwen’s pretty exotic, right?! I did the Honolulu, Hawaii Marathon which sounds glamorous, but honestly… it’s a bit rough round the edges. For a casual run though, Sedona in Arizona is hard to beat. Absolutely stunning — even while gasping for air and getting stalked by a bobcat.
8: Highlight of your running ‘career’ so far
Probably winning the 3 Towers Ultra. I was first male and Amy Freeman was first female, making it a double win for the Dashers. The reward was a free entry for the following year and that was it!! I mean, the race finished at The Ranken in Hoddlesden and I didn’t even get a free pint. Needless to say, feedback was given and I didn’t return the following year.
9: Any hobbies we don’t know about?
I’ve always struggled with hobbies outside of sports, but I do enjoy getting the telescope out on a clear night and looking at the planets. Although if I’m honest, it’s mostly just an excuse to stand outside drinking beer while pretending to the neighbours to be intellectual.
10: Interesting fact about yourself
I’m a qualified England Athletics guide runner. I haven’t done it for a few years now, but it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done and definitely puts your own excuses into perspective.
11: Most interesting job(s) past or present
I’ve worked for Procter & Gamble since leaving school. We make Pampers nappies — arguably the finest poo-catching technology on Earth. I’m an electrical technician and I’ve had loads of different roles over the years. Most recently I worked in the USA with the development team, which honestly, with the amount of technology and money involved, I often wondered if we were secretly building space rockets rather than making nappies. It was a great experience and although I was away for work, it was the best holiday I’ve ever had!! Through work, I’ve worked in at least 14 different plants and visited 10 countries. Not bad for a nappy maker from Trafford Park.
12: Dasher you admire and why?
Two stand out:
1. Brian Morris — mainly for all the advice he gave me when I first started running. We had some brilliant training runs and, in a weirdly psychotic way, I miss the Monday night Wraith Street hill repeats, which will make a regular comeback once my work load reduces in Autumn for anyone that’s interested??
2. Barry Shackleton — his dedication to parkrun is unreal. 700+ events. That’s over 13 years worth of willingly getting up every Saturday morning for a 5k. A truly terrifying commitment.
13: Any future running ambitions?
To complete all the World Majors. So far I’ve done London, Boston and Chicago twice. This year I’m adding Sydney and Berlin. Berlin needs to be quick though, because the “good for age” qualification times for New York and Tokyo are absolutely savage. Apparently ageing gracefully isn’t enough and moving up an age category next year is maybe an added bonus.
14: Which song on your playlist makes you run faster & further?
I never listen to music when running. I do when indoor cycling though, and Music Sounds Better With You by Stardust always seems to add about 20 watts and at least three imaginary Tour de France victories.
15: Which person past or present would you most like to run with?
I’m not someone who looks in awe at celebrities and wishes to spend time with them. Certainly, no human comes to mind who I would desperately like to run with. Now if the question was changed from Person to Animal, I’d easily say my Springer Spaniel Murdock. He loved walking and running with me and liked nothing better than a dip in a peat bog up on the moors to cool off.
16: Best thing about Darwen Dashers.
It’s not overly serious. I mean, I can’t expect there are many running clubs who think it’s ‘normal’ and more to the point, ‘acceptable’ to run about on the moors completely naked, shouting at George Thompson to put his clothes back on as he ‘bounced’ around in the heather with his Isle of Man flag as a family of 4 approached us on mountain bikes, is possibly the funniest moment of my life. The overall best thing about Darwen Dashers is that it’s just a group of like-minded folk trying to push their own limits a bit… before rewarding themselves with a pint and a packet of crisps.
17: Any running, or other superstitions?
The number of toilet visits before a race is not necessarily a superstition, it’s become a crucial life fact for me.
Just Once = danger.
Twice = safe.
Three times = we’re racing well today.
Four or more = last night’s curry was a tactical error.
18: Your perfect, indulgent, post run meal
Post parkrun has to follow the unwritten rule of a Wetherspoons breakfast. Eggs Benedict is the breakfast of champions. After a marathon or ultra, initially I can barely eat anything, but once my stomach forgives me it has to be a proper hot curry. Over the years I’ve done a number of back to back marathons – At this point, refer to question 17!
19: One piece of advice for a new runner
Listen to your body. Effort hurts. Injuries are pain. Learn the difference and know when to rest before your body makes the decision for you.
20: Sum yourself up in 5 words
Alcoholic with a running problem.
