Get to know…Jim Callender

For this week’s chosen club member we are joined by someone who came and went for a while but with life changes has managed to find his way back to the Arena home. I don’t know too much about Jim so thank goodness for the ‘get to know…’ series. Of the brief chat that I have had with Jim, he was great company and very easy to chat with. Great to have you back with us Jim now let’s hear what you’ve got for us…
Name: Jim Callender
1. When and why did you join Arena:
I joined in April 2017 – as I was finding running on my own for every run was getting boring, had done a few Park runs and seen the Arena vests. I wanted to increase my running potential to see what I was possible of. Since I’ve been a member I’ve done cross country, track, trail and relay events.
2. How long have you been running:
I took exercise seriously again when became a dad around 7 years ago, and I was over 15 stone. Since then I’ve been hooked on the endorphins!
3. Where did you grow up:
In the beautiful Thames valley – between Henley on Thames and Reading.
4. Which three words describe you best:
Adaptable, adventurous and easy going
5. Apart from running what else do you do with your free time:
Chase my sons around, cycle a lot, and squeeze in some work. I canoe and kayak various rivers and seas here and abroad. Having done many solo long distance cycling journeys.
6. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you this week:
Waking up in a field in the camper van in Dorset.
7. Tell me about something you would happily do again:
Travel (very slowly) around South-East Asia – eating wonderful food and diving wonderful reefs.
8. What was your favourite subject at school:
None. I wasn’t academic or even sporty at school. I ended up getting a Science degree at Uni a few years later.
9. Who is your sporting hero:
Mark Beaumont, Scottish adventurer. Also pretty special to have been trained at Withdean by Daley Thompson, and Sally Gunnel, and to run in same park run as Kelly Holmes
10. Which time period would you visit in history:
Hmm, maybe to be Phileas Fogg’s PA when he did his 80 days journey.
11. Have you anything on your bucket list that you still want to do:
Doing Lands End to John O’Groats next year.
12. What is your favourite drink:
Traditional real cider – just them apples!
13. First song you ever purchased:
Micheal Jackson, BAD on cassette
14. Name 3 people (dead or alive) you would like to sit in a pub with:
Eddie Murphy
Keith Lemon
Ade Edmonson
think that trio would keep me entertained
15. Tell us something we don’t know about you:
I’ve led various nature conservation projects around the world, I’ve led a expedition to a rainforest in a Phillipino volcano, and worked in Middle East taking people on overland tours through Egypt, Jordan and Israel.
16. What was your favourite toy as a kid:
Tough one – either Commodore 64 or Raleigh Burner
17. What do the last five words of the last text sent to you say:
for your imminent tri event!
18. Are you scared of anything:
Not that fond of airplane turbulence
19. If you didn’t run what other sport would you like to have done:
Cycled the World
20. What was the last book you read:
Currently reading around the world in 80 days by Mark Beaumont – who technically cycled through all the mental torture of being on a bike 18 hours a day for 18,000 miles in just 78 days.
Our biggest thanks to Jim for his Q&A’s this week and we hope that you feel that you have now got to know Jim a little better. Check back next Wednesday for another set of Q&A’s with our chosen club member.