60 second interview with Tony Audenshaw

Who do you admire in the world of running?

I admire all sorts of runners: those who make a massive life change to start running, those who keep on running through their lives without seemingly getting sick of it and triers. Anyone who is sick after a race deserves a medal! It's hard for me to name an elite runner as I find it difficult to relate to their goals and achievements. Stockport Harrier Steve Jones (not the London Marathon winner) is someone who broke three hours in a marathon, then had the determination to carry on knocking minutes off it and inspired me to step up to Ultras when he completed the Bob Graham Round having never run a fell race. He even gave up eating cake for some of his training, now that's dedication.

We heard that Nell McAndrew has named you as a fellow celebrity runner that she admires! Have you done much running with her?

I've never trained with Nell, maybe she listens to 'Tony's Trials' on the Marathon Talk Podcast whilst she is out running. I've met her at quite a few races and she is great, a proper runner. A couple of years ago she beat 1.30 at the Great North Run dressed as Wonder Woman; cape, tiara, boots, the lot. Now, that's impressive.

You chose "British Birds" as your specialist subject on Celebrity Mastermind. Do you twitch while you run?

My first choice subjects were The Beatles, Ryan Adams, Neil Young, Eighties number ones, Brookside in the Eighties, Seventies TV Sitcoms and TV Gameshows (all very highbrow). I soon realised how far down the pecking order I was when I was told I couldn't do music or tv as they had already been taken. I was left with Michael Connelly's Harry Boschh novels and British Birds and opted for birds as I was a keen birdwatcher when I was young and thought I could blag half the answers even if I didn't do any research.I am normally oblivious to nature thanks to my ipod but on pack runs, where I run without it, I often get left behind whilst investigating the likes of Wheaters, Reed Buntings and on one occasion a Hawfinch.

It turned out to be a good choice because you won and beat fellow athlete Roger Black into second place!

I'll never beat Roger Black at running, so it was nice to pip him at the post on Mastermind.

Do you have time for any other hobbies or interests?

When I am not running I enjoy singing with White Van Man, we have a World Cup Song out on iTunes called 'Viva Englandia'. Twad the guitarist is a runner too and recently smashed his pb for a marathon running 3.29 at Brighton. You can hear the song at www.vivaenglandia.co.uk