Running-mad OAP has more medals than Bolt
Ronald, 75, is set to run his 50th race for charity
A 75-year-old pensioner who took up running when he was 50 is on his way to completing his 50th race.
Grandfather Ronald Brown began running 25 years ago as a way to get out and about and keep active.
He’s never been part of a running club but that hasn’t stopped him racking up the miles on training runs around his home village of Lochwinnoch.
And the modest man, who has raised thousands for charity through his efforts, simply catches the bus to his races then comes home again.
He said: “It’s been 25 years since I started. I did a couple of marathons over in Edinburgh, but the chap who gave me a run through moved away from the village, so I just do them around here now,
“I used to do half-marathons, but I’ve cut it down to 10ks.
“I just started running because I thought it would be good. It gets you out on the road and keeps you fit.
“It’s lovely scenery around here. I do a few different routes around Lochwinnoch into the countryside.
“It’s a good milestone to get to 50 races. It’s just something I’ve been doing for ages. I do two a year – the Paisley 10k for training, then I raise money for charity at the Glasgow race.”
Ronald took part in the Paisley 10k and his next race, which will be his 50th, is the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow, on Sunday, October 1.
He said: “It will be 50 next month when I do the Great Scottish Run 10k. I’ll be running it for an Alzheimer’s charity.
“At my first race 25 years ago, I raised £20. Last year, I gathered in more than £1,000. I think I must have raised about £20,000-odd over the years.
“I’ve got more medals than Mo Farah and Usain Bolt! They might not be golds, but they’re still medals.”
Ronald, who’s lived in Lochwinnoch most of his life, became a joiner when he left school. He worked emptying coal lorries before he got his apprenticeship and was a chippie for most of his working life.
He married his first wife and had a son with her before she passed away.
“Ronald married again to Shirley, who is in her 50s, and the couple had three daughters. He has two grandsons and one granddaughter.
Ronald has helped out with Lochwinnoch 1st Boys Brigade for the last 48 years and hopes to run a race for the organisation in 2019.
He said: “I’m not finished yet. It’s the centenary of the Boys’ Brigade in 2019, so I’m hoping to run a race to raise money for them.
“I’ve only ever missed one race because the bus from the village didn’t turn up but I’ve made all the others. I usually just go myself while Shirley does something else at home.”
He added: “Getting to 50 races will be a feat.
“It’s a challenge every time. I keep in good health, so as long as I can keep doing it I will.