Cardiff man, 69, is still an Ever Present

CARDIFF man Jeff Aston finished his 36th London Marathon yesterday in five hours and 54 minutes.

The 69-year-old, from Rhiwbina, is the only Welshman to have run in every London marathon since it began in 1981.

The retired IT technician only began running the year before his first marathon, when the River Taff flooded his squash club.

But Jeff yesterday joined the group of runners dubbed “The Ever Presents” and was placed 22,511th overall, but a highly creditable 214th in his 65-69 years age category.

The Ever Presents group was first formed in 1995 with 42 members. Last year, there were 12, but this year Jeff is one of 11.

The group is more exclusive than the number of men who have walked on the Moon.

“We don’t tend to meet up much outside of the marathon. Last year we had a lunch in London, in the summer,” Jeff said ahead of this year’s race.

“I’ll probably recognise a few of them and there’ll likely be a photo call an hour before the marathon, outside the starting area. I’ll meet up with the Ever Presents and we may start together, even near each other. ”

Jeff said he doesn’t have the nerves first-time runners often do.

“I’ve gone through the emotions and the experiences so many times I’m quite used to it.

“It is always a hurdle for a youngster or an older runner. It’s never easy.”

He has managed to stay in the group with a “bit of determination and stubbornness” – and quite a bit of luck, too, in getting on early ballots to run.

“Luck and not over-training yourself is a good part of the reason I’ve been able to keep in, ” he said, adding that he has no plans to give up the marathon yet.