Get to know…Chris Park

For this weeks chosen club member we are joined by the easy laidback man of the pack Chris Park. I’ve had the pleasure of running with Chris over the last few years e     specially when we both trained for the Brighton Marathon and training in the http://RunBrighton,com group He is every part a gentleman and carries a very relaxed manner about him, rarely have I ever seen this man be phased by anything. As the saying goes “he is an all round good egg” so let’s find out some more about Chris Park.
Name: Chris Park
1. When did you join Arena:
I think it was 2013.
2. How long have you been running:
I was a sprinter and high jumper as a teenager, I took up distance running for a short while in my late twenties then stopped, didn’t start running seriously again until 2009-10 (first Brighton Marathon).
3. Where did you grow up:
Born and bred in York.
4. What was the last thing you bought:
A 3-pack of fishnet tights. Before you jump to conclusions, my daughter asked me to get them for her on my Amazon Prime account.
5. What’s one of the scariest things you’ve ever done:
Going down a black run in the Pyrenees when I didn’t really know how to ski. A french person told me it was easy. I was a gullible student at the time.
6. What were you like at school:
As far as my teachers were concerned: lazy, a daydreamer, a bit of a pain.
7. Tell me about something you would happily do again:      
Swimming with dolphins in New Zealand, but I’d like the ocean to be a bit calmer next time.
8. Name 3 things in nature you find most beautiful:
Ocean waves, snowflakes, thunderstorms.
9. Tell us about something you’ve achieved:
York and District Under 16 High Jump Champion 1973. It’s all gone downhill since then.  
10. What’s your favourite book, magazine or comic:
I don’t really have a favourite book, but if I did it would probably be written by J.G.Ballard or Sebastian Faulks.
11. Tell us something we don’t know about you:
I used to play bass guitar in an early eighties London post-punk band: baggy suits, cropped blond hair, beret (luckily there’s not too much photographic evidence).
12. What makes you happy:
Spending time with my family.
13. What do you do to relax: 
I Like learning to play musical instruments: I’ve recently started learning the violin and find practicing very therapeutic (neighbours aren’t so keen though).
14. If you could try out any job for a day, what would you like to try:
As a child I wanted to be an airline pilot, still quite fancy having a go at flying, but I don’t have deep enough pockets to take it up as a hobby.
15. Which store or website would you choose to max out your credit card:
I’ve just paid off my credit cards, so I’m not going down that road again.
16. What is most important in life:
Not maxing out on your credit cards.
17. Who in your life has influenced you the most:
My wife Bronwen, always there to encourage me when I have a good idea and to stop me from doing stupid things.
18. What’s your earliest memory:
Tearfully watching our family dog, a red setter, being driven away by it’s new owner when I was 3 years old. My parents gave it away after it ate all my plastic toys, I think they thought it was going to eat me next.
19. Name your 3 favourite foods:
Mashed potatoes, fried eggs, grilled asparagus. 
20. Who is your sporting hero:
Mo Farah.
Our biggest thanks to Chris for his Q&A’s this week and we hope that you feel that you have now got to know Chris a little better. Check back next Wednesday for another set of Q&A’s with our chosen club member.