86 and still going strong
Barb Wilson is up at 5am most days to hit the treadmill.
She walks 8 to 16 kilometres a day six days a week at her home in Morrinsville.
Not too bad for someone who’s 86. Once she finishes her walk, she treats herself to a little piece of dark chocolate.
‘‘That’s my reward for getting out of bed and getting on the treadmill. I try to stay away from the sweet stuff.’’
Wilson will walk the 12km Lugton’s Round the Bridges race on Sunday.
Wilson is a half marathon walker and competes in about eight events throughout the year and various smaller distances around the Waikato.
‘‘I sometimes wake up and think, oh God, do I have to get up? Then I say, well, I don’t want to come last. I know someone’s gotta come last, but it won’t be me for a while.’’
Her goals are simple: get over the finish line and don’t come last. She also wants to beat last year’s time of one hour and thirty minutes.
‘‘It’s a great fun event. I just tell myself I don’t have to save any energy like the half [marathon]. I start off with a bang and go flat out, all the way. Well, that’s the plan, anyway.’’
In 2003, Wilson competed in her first half marathon in Taupo. It was meant to be a one off, but she was hooked.
‘‘I am very competitive. I saw my sister do one and I thought, I can do that!’’ She is already looking towards her next half marathon - in Huntly next March. I will stop when I stop enjoying it. But I’m still enjoying my training, and at least with the treadmill, I don’t have to worry about the rain.’’
Over 6000 people have registered for the Round the Bridges event, now in its 73rd year, which has three distances - 2km, 6km and 12km.
There is still time to register for the race - people can sign up on Saturday at the Hamilton City Council reception in Civic Square between noon and 4pm.