Gareth Davies

How many marathons have you run?

Over 300

Why did you start running and tell us about your first marathon

My school was 2 miles from my house in Widnes – I didn’t like school dinners so lunchtime I ran home/back . My first marathon only cost me about 10p but now the price has increased to about 90p.

What has been your favourite marathon so far? Why?

I have many favourite races all for different reasons – so I will go for the Paris Marathon when in earlier days I could run quickly I finished in 2hours and 54 mins , no one in front or behind me and it felt like I had won the gold medal in the Olympics on Avenue Foch near the Arc De Triumph !

Tell us about your 100th Marathon, Where, when, how you choose it etc?

Ran it in NYC – and had a massive union jack flag to wave around central park on the last 800m, almost brought down the finish gantry. If you are going to do something big, do it big style !

Whats your approach to training / running outside of races?

To train as and when you have free time – your commute or with friends you can arrange some crazy escaping trail runs.

If money were no object what race would you run and why

Probably somewhere remote in the world to see and experience the planet – the north and south poles the equator and of course the Vanguard Way !

Running things go wrong for all of us – whats the biggest mistake /upset along your running path

I turned up in Paris – via Eurostar and hotel checked in Paris – got to the expo where the notice board said the race was in one week’s time – what a booking error ! I returned the next week to show I would not be defeated – who hates Paris anyway , it’s a great place !

What piece of advice would you give someone starting out on this journey

Buy some decent trainers and join a local club to get a flavour of similar people

What keeps you busy outside of running?

Some race organisation Richmond Park, Vanguard and Woldingham and lots of travel !