The steep Bullock Track was an important part of his regular 45-minute lunchtime run.
"The Bullock Track was special," Tayler said. "I was always last up because I concentrated on technique. Graham Scarf always used to clean us up."
When reflecting back on the seven years he spent training in Dunedin, Tayler highlighted the hill running.
"That's why we all ran well in Otago because of the hills," Tayler said.
'Looking back today, I have fond memories of running up the Bullock Track. When you come round the last corner you think you are there but you still have a bit of climbing to do."
Tayler believes running on the Dunedin hills played a significant role in building in the strength that helped him win the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Christchurch in 1974.
His time for the 10,000m of 27min 46.4se is still a New Zealand resident record.
It also helped him to become the first, and only, Otago runner, to run a sub-four-minute mile in Dunedin when he ran 3min 58.8sec at the old Caledonian Ground in 1971.
Tayler, the popular ambassador for the New Zealand Masters Games, always makes a point of putting the medal over the neck when presenting the medals.
"I've seen some events where people just get handed the medal," Tayler said. "I think it is more significant than that and I always place the medal around the neck."
He said people treasure the medals they win at Masters Games.
Tayler was living in a rented apartment in the central business district when the earthquake struck Christchurch.
"It was a bit devastating but I feel more for the people who lost their lives or older people whose homes have been damaged," he said. "Christchurch is changed forever."
One of the heartbreaks for Tayler was the loss of QE2 Stadium, the scene of his triumph in 1974.
Ironically, a street that escaped the earthquake damage in Christchurch was Dick Tayler Dr near QE2.
"There are no houses and no pubs on it, just judder bars," Tayler quipped.
Tayler had some hard decisions to make after the earthquake and has decided to leave Christchurch and rebuild at Waikouaiti.
"Financially, it will be a lot more viable for me to get established there," he said.
A section on the outskirts of Christchurch costs around $200,00 compared to $50,000 at Waikouaiti.
It will be more central for him because of his job as national sales manager of Advanced Gaming.
He also has roles as ambassador for the Westland District Council and the Edendale Crank Up, and is the South Island roving ambassador for the Farming Show on Radio Sport.
He is a life member of the Ariki Athletics Club and the Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club.
