How old are you?
61
Where do you live?
Ealing, London, England
What is your history with sports and athletics?
I was born a blue baby in 1959. I had a double congenital heart defect and my chances of making my teens were slim . In 1966 I had open heart surgery, my body being coupled to my father’s heart and lungs as the bypass machine had not been perfected. I lived a normal life, watching rather than participating in sports.
In 2013 I had further open heart surgery for a triple bypass and this was soon followed by more heart attacks and cardiac procedures. To give thanks to those that conspired to save my life, I decided I would raise funds for the BHF by walking the 60 miles from London to Brighton. I began training on Jan 1st, 2017 and in July that year I attempted the walk. I got to mile 40 before collapsing and being blue lighted by ambulance to Brighton A&E. I recovered and walked the last mile. I entered again in 2018 but to strengthen my legs and get fitter, it was suggested by a friend that I should join a Couch to 5k running program. I joined the Ealing Eagles and in November 2017 I graduated having completed my first ever continuous 5k. I have not looked back since. On a footnote, I had sepsis in 2018 so could not do the walk and so I still owe the BHF 20 miles.
What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?
The exhilaration of finishing an event regardless of what position I finish in, which is invariably last. My proudest moments are when I ran my first continuous 5k in 2017 and running and finishing the Ealing Half Marathon in 2019. Running is great for decluttering the brain because all I can think about is staying alive and making it to the next tree or lamp post.
Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles?
Every day is a challenge. I am just thankful that I wake up in the mornings and running is helping me with that. Having heart disease, AFIB, diabetes, hypothyroidism and being on betablockers, which slows the heart rate down, doesn’t help, but I adapt and overcome.
What is your “Why?”
Running has extended my life. I will continue to do so until my legs will carry me no more.
What is your favorite gear or training equipment?
Easy: After run latte and carrot cake and a chat with the other runners.
What’s next?
I am training for the Boston marathon, 2022. That’s Boston, Lincolnshire. The Uk’s flattest. I would like to run a 50k Ultra but we’ll see.
Any fun facts about yourself?
I am a certified Beginners run leader. I once took a Beginners group on a 5.5k parkrun! I got lost. They were not impressed. Neither was the tail-walker when they realised that they had finished before we had.
Do you have any advice for someone interested in getting started?
Get gait analysis and choose trainers that are comfortable. Run faster and you run alone, run slower and we run together. Have fun.
Any other comments or stories you’d like to share?
A run is a run regardless of pace or distance. There is no such thing as a slow runner, we are just runners. Besides, a person finishing at the rear gets to enjoy the event longer.