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This month's member spotlight is on our Club Membership Secretary, Dave Thompson. How did you get into running and why? Like a lot of other guys after my not very succsessfull football career came to an end looked for some other means to keep fit.This was the time of the first running boom my first race being the James Herriot run in 1983..Knee injury and lack of motivation saw me quit in1985. What kept you going when you first started running? When I started turning into a fat lad at the turn of the century decided to give running another go.The difference this time was meeting lunatics in Quaker vests ploughing through the mud on one of my sunday morning training runs at the Castle Eden Walkway.Joining the Quakers was the best possible move to ensure I kept my enthusiasm for the running game.Meeting like minded people,who understand what you are talking about,encourage you to improve I believe you can only obtain by being a member of a club.
How did you get into the long distance endurance running? Decided early on in my second crack at running to prevent injuries to complete a large percentage of my training off road.By pure chance saw advert for The Ellerburn Experience,October 2000, a 16 or 26 mile run through Dolby Forest near Pickering.Thought how the hell can anyone run 26 miles across that terrain so entered the short route and came second.As the saying goes the rest is history within two months completed two 26 mile off road events and was well and truely hooked.Stepping up to the 50 milers seemed a natural progression.
How much training do you typically do?
By completing approx 10/12 events a year of 26 + miles the events train the body to adapt to the long distances.That's my theory and it seems to work for me.I cannot see the point of doing 70 miles a week at my age I would be completly knackered 24/7.
Be honest, do you enjoy training, especially when you've got a race of 50+ miles to run?
Do not believe anyone can enjoy pounding the pavements on a cold winters night with the rain lashing down. I try to vary my training as much as possible.If it is freezing cold seems sensible to me to have a couple of hours cross training down at the gym.
What's your aim for 2010?
Have three targets before I get too old. Marathon to break the elusive 3:30 barrier,current best 3:30;34 (cracked this at London) Half Marathon to get under 1:35 current best 1:35:35. Completing another 100 miler. Looking further forward completing the ultra trail de mont blanc,100 miles 30,000 feet of climbing with a 46 hour time limit.Yes I know I am a daft lad.
What is your favourite race/distance/terrain?
Terrrain got to be off road. Distance 26 + Race.Cannot decide between Round Rotheram 50mile trail race or Flanders Field marathon.
What's your idea of running heaven? Sunny day up in the hills with a pub close to the finish.
What's your idea of running hell?
5K race on the pink path at Redcar breathing through orifices you did not know existed.
Any advice to newcomers?
Once you get into the sport try something different.Yes the high profile mass participation events have their attraction but there are many low profile events that deserve our support.If we do not support them they will die and we will be left paying top dollar to money making organisations who do not give a toss re the grass routes of our sport. How do you start to prepare for a long distance endurance race? 1. Do as little as possible for five days previous. 2. Eat like there is no tomorrow,pasta,pasta,pasta.
Best way to relax/reward yourself after a race?
Easiest question starts with P and ends with UB.
Tell us a little about your role at the club?
As Membership Sec main role is twisting arms to get the readies each year to ensure the club has the necessary finances to survive.The added bonus is having to deal with that wonderfull organisation,England Athetics,who we pay £5/member affiliation.I do all the work updating thier database and what do we as a club get in return? Oh forgot three London marathon entries.They cost £600 last year!!!
How do you feel about the growth of the Quakers, especially as we push towards the 200 adult members mark?
The growth of the club is 100% due to the ethics within the club.Cracking group of people with no elitism which attracts new people to the sport.Have never been in a club where it seems everyone is encouraging each other to strive to improve. What is the best part of the club in your opinion? No question the annual Mike Horan Eurofest,have not missed one since joining the club.
Apple, Water, Banana or Mars bar in your ideal goodie bag? Tough one.In Ultra races go through bannanas and Mars bars in equal volume.If real ale is not available bannanas will just edge it.
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Past Member Spotlights 
