TONY AUDENSHAW is perhaps best known as Bob Hope from the ITV soap Emmerdale. Over the last few years Tony has participated in several Great Run events, finishing fastest celebrity on more than one occasion. He is proud to be part of the Banana Army Team for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
Have you been running for a long time or have you recently taken it up?
I started running in 1996, then gave up before starting again in 1999
What inspired you to get running?
I was a big fat lad and wanted to lose weight. Once I got going and my times started to get quicker, I was inspired to continue.
What is the best piece of training advice you’ve been given?
“If you hit 70% of your sessions you are on target,” Paul Toole, Stockport Harriers coach.
Do you train alone, with a running partner or as part of a group?
I do it all, though mostly alone as I train off my heart rate and that is specific to me. But I do group long runs, group training sessions and often run with either my wife or a number of friends.
What was your first race and how did it go?
Aside from school cross country and Run the World in 1986, it was the 1996 Manchester Marathon. I didn’t realise they did shorter races, from 20 miles on it was pretty hideous.
What is your greatest running achievement?
Running a sub 3 hour marathon
Describe the atmosphere at a big mass participation event?
The collection of energy and anticipation from the runners is matched on the way around by the support of the crowd – a wonderful collective experience. The Great Run Series epitomises this.
If you weren’t an actor, what career path do you think you would have taken?
Journalist at the seedier end of the business.
What other interests do you have?
I sing with the band White Van Man. We have played at the end of the Great North Run for the last five years with Geordie legends, The Gaslighters. We recently released our first single, the World Cup song “Viva Englandia”
What advice could you offer new runners preparing for their first event?
Build your training slowly; if you get an injury (and you probably will) get it treated and don’t give up; don’t worry about your time; enjoy the experience. If you don’t enjoy it, maybe running isn’t the sport for you, but something else will be.