Get to know…Gary Osborne
For this week’s chosen club member we are joined by a bit of a comic amongst us. However as Gary portrayed himself to me it went a little something like this: I have two legs with medium-high cadence, I give you, I couldn’t run a bath, I give you, I bore my family to tears over my split times, I give you and that is how it put’s himself over to me and this is how he would like to be know amongst his peers i guess. Definitely a man who likes a bit of banter and can definitely add he is a very upbeat guy. Now let’s find out what lies behind the mask of Gary Osborne.
1. When and why did you join Arena:
I joined in November 2016 after mucking about at Hove Park Thursday sessions for two months. You all seemed like a fun bunch to be around and my times starting to skim at the park runs so the two clicked…
2. How long have you been running:
On and off since 2012. What started as ‘Dad Jogging’ to get some head space from the kids has turned into a sport I’m quite obsessed with.
3. Where did you grow up:
Grew up in Southwick, so the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree…
4. Which three words describe you best:
Sociable, opinionated, perfectionist.
5. Apart from running what else do you do with your free time:
Being a Dad to three kids will keep me busy enough!
6. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you this week:
I saw Chesney Hawkes play ‘I Am The One and Only’ in Panto with the kids. I was just about to film it with my phone and realised no one in the audience were so I slowly put phone back in pocket to retain ultimate coolness. Hang on, is that the best thing that’s happened to me? Jeez…
7. Tell me about something you would happily do again:
Go to University, it probably made who I am today.
8. What was your favourite subject at school:
Art.
9. Who is your sporting hero:
The most resonating sporting hero for me has to be Paul Gascoigne. Italia ‘90, watching them fall out of the World Cup with my Dad. Don’t cry Gazza… (the player not me).
10. What are you most looking forward to for 2018:
To regularly go sub 20 and 40 in 5 & 10k’s. It takes time to get to a good standard for sure. One thing I’ve learnt at Arena is patience and consistency. Running is a long game and I’m enjoying the journey.
11. Have you anything on your bucket list that you still want to do:
Base Camp Everest and trek through the Himalayas.
12. What is your favourite drink:
Can’t beat a good glass of rouge!
13. Have you ever had or do you have a nickname:
Gazza, G, G-Dog… I’ve heard them all and I’m not fussed.
14. Name 3 people (dead or alive) you would like to sit in a pub with:
Ricky Gervais, Hunter S. Thompson and Jack Nicholson. Can you imagine?!
15. Tell us something we don’t know about you:
I’m a freelance filmmaker and I travel a quite a bit with work. So I try and make my strava updates as interesting as possible, at the disgust of my running mates though haha.
16. Who would you choose to be marooned on a desert island with (non family):
Myself. Being marooned with anyone isn’t going to end well, is it.
17. What was the last film you watched:
Logan.
18. Which time period would you visit in history:
To the time of pre-mobile phones. Does anyone remember…?
19. What are your 3 most used apps on your phone:
strava, instagram and Facebook (Facebook only because of the incredible arena updates).
20. What was the last book you read:
Bit geeky but it was called ‘Sapiens’ by Yuval Noah Harari. Proper eye opener.
Our biggest thanks to Gary for his Q&A’s this week and we hope that you feel that you have now got to know Gary a little better. Check back next Wednesday for another set of Q&A’s with our chosen club member.