Get to Know…Dan Vaughan

There's no hiding behind this tree.
There’s no hiding behind this tree.

We are joined this week by the man who seems to take every first place for the O40’s in almost every race he does. He is a human metronome and with his very upright running style towers amongst most of his competitors. Let’s find out more about Mr Vaughan.
Name: Dan Vaughan
1. When did you join Arena: 
2013, after I quit my London job and so could make it to evening sessions. Bob sweet-talked me into choosing Arena.
2. How long have you been running:
A friend persuaded me to do the Great North Run in 2006 – my first ever race. I used to play footy regularly (centre back) but had to stop in 2003 after knee surgery. Luckily I can run in straight lines – it’s just kicking people that hurts.
3. Where did you grow up:
Born in Manchester, grew up & schooled in Knutsford (Cheshire) where my mum and sister still live. They’re not the same person – that only happens the other side of the Pennines.
4. How many pairs of trainers do you have:
On the low side at moment – only 8 pairs in active service, with 4 waiting patiently on top of the wardrobe.
5. In your opinion, what is the best movie ever:
The English Patient. Or at least the key movie in my life – I softened up my girlfriend with it on DVD before proposing to her. She’s still tolerating me after 16 years of marriage. Any rumours that I only actually proposed after Match of the Day are TOTALLY UNFOUNDED.
6. Tell us about something you would happily do again:
Best holiday of my life was a 10 day tour of Chile. Desert, volcanoes, Andes, Santiago, vineyards, Patagonia…  I’d love to go back, and take at least 20 days…
7. If you had one word to describe yourself, what would you choose:
“Cantankerous” has been mentioned on the odd occasion. Very unfair. I’d go for “organised” or “tidy”. Might as well go for “dull” and be done with it.
8. Have you got any running rituals you do before a race: 
Breakfast 3 hours before it starts – just coffee & cereal. Then nothing till a bottle of Lucozade on the start line. Dull.
9. Who is your sporting hero:
Gary Pallister. (Manchester United centre back in the 1990s)
10. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can, what can you touch:
My right arm. I have very long arms.
11. What is your one weakness:
My wine cellar. It leads me astray.
12. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear:
Tour de France on TV downstairs. Come on the Froome dog. My 7 year old son is capable of watching even more sport on TV than me.
13. If money was no object, where you most like to visit:
I’ve always wanted to do a driving holiday from San Francisco up the coastline through California and Oregon to Seattle… Lucky that… See you when I get back in a few weeks…
14. What type of music do you like to listen to:
The Stone Roses. Am a bit partial to Johnny Cash too. And The Smiths. My musical knowledge seems to end in the 1990s.
15. What’s something we don’t know about you:
My Dad was Lord Mayor of York in 1999/2000 (despite being Lancastrian!). I suppose that’s not really about me though. I got a grade A in Home Economics GCSE.
16. What would be in your perfect sandwich:
An Aussie Shiraz and an Argentinian Malbec with a South African Pinotage in the middle. Not the night before a race though.
17. What’s the furthest you have ridden on your bike:
I cycled 1100 miles in 10 days from Bordeaux to Alicante via the Pyrenees after I’d graduated in 1993. And that included 2 days rest in Barcelona tracking down some bike parts! Happy days. My best mate sat in my slipstream the whole way, the lazy toe rag. Although if you know me, that can be a pretty unpleasant place to be.
18. Would you prefer to go bungee jumping or sky diving and have you done either or are you going to at some point: 
Definitely sky diving. I did a parachute jump for charity 25 years ago – loved it. Maybe take up skydiving when the legs give out.
19. What was the last photo you took on your phone:
At Wimbledon 2 weeks ago. Photography ain’t my thing – I’ll leave that to Danny Cartier-Bresson Cartledge.
20. Where are you happiest when you are out running:
Racing! Favourite local race has to be the Hastings Half – on roads, but suitably challenging. Most scenic race I’ve done was the Two Oceans 56k in Cape Town.
Our biggest thanks to Dan for this week’s Q&A’s and you can’t miss Dan at track on Monday’s and Hove Park on Thursday’s. Check back next Wednesday for another set of Q&A’s with our next chosen club member.