Pensioners who run 20 miles a week show age is no barrier
ARETIRED couple who took up running in their 70s and 80s have run an impressive 8,000 miles each in the past four years.
Eileen, 79, and John Hieron, 85, fell in love with running when Eileen started pounding the pavements in 2014, with John soon following in 2016, and now they clock up around 20 miles a week.
The pair, who have been married 58 years, train together in Gloucestershire three times a week and their schedule includes two 4-5 mile runs, and one long run of up to 12 miles. They also enjoy leisurely walks at the weekend.
Eileen also does weight training with a personal trainer twice a week.
The pair run alongside other runners at the Dursley Running Club, some of whom are 40 years their junior.
Eileen and John consider their hobby to be a great benefit to their physical and mental well-being, as well as their social lives. They admit that many of their contemporaries think they are ‘crazy’.
Grandmother-of-six Eileen took up the sport in 2014, aged 72, when she started running with a friend who was training for a marathon – and it wasn’t long before John, a retired grain merchant, started the NHS ‘Couch to 5K’ when he noticed Eileen was getting fitter and winning medals in competitions.
Eileen, a retired health practitioner, from Dursley, said: “I started running the local Parkrun every Saturday. I met new friends through that and then I joined my local running club.
“It certainly did me good, not just the running but the friendship aspect, and it’s a good de-stresser.
“A year later, John got the running bug himself, aged 79. Now there’s no stopping us.”
Since 2018, Eileen has run four marathons with a personal best of 5 hours 21 minutes at the 2021 London Marathon. She was awarded sixth place at the Wanda Age Group World Championships in the 75-79 category at the London Marathon which she considers her “greatest achievement in running”.
John and Eileen have run in road, trail and cross-country events in England and other countries and completed the weekly 5km Parkrun events in locations such as New Zealand, California and Singapore.
The couple volunteer regularly as running marshals at the Wotton Parkrun to give back to the community. John has volunteered over 80 times.
Eileen said: “We’ve always been sporty but when you’ve been out running you feel much better.
“Running is now a great hobby to us and though it’s not expected in our age, no one at our club makes us feel any different.”
Eileen and John were the oldest man and woman to participate at the London Landmarks Half Marathon earlier this month.
The pair were made VIP guest runners and completed the 13.1 mile race in 2hr 43:11, having set a target of 2 hours 50 minutes.
Since taking up running, the pair have both been presented with gold medals by Gloucestershire AAA for winning their age categories in a series of races held in the county.
The couple, who are parents to Paul, 51, and Sarah, 50, and have six granddaughters ranging from 15 to 22, consider their ability to stay active into their 70s and 80s a blessing.
Eileen said: “John and I realise that we are lucky to still be able to run and keep active and hope to be able to do so for years to come.
“We’ve had our health problems obviously but I’m also quite a positive person which I think is important.
“Our friends say pleased for us.
“They always support our efforts and came along to the virtual races in lockdown to cheer us along at the finish line.”
The couple, who met at a rugby club dance in Bristol in 1962, revealed that sport has always played an important role in their lives.
John said: “Meeting Eileen at that dance and asking her to dance with me were the most important three seconds of my life.
“The reason for our long marriage is that we support each other in sport and all other areas of our life.”
John played for Bristol Harlequins Rugby Club during his early life and enjoyed golf and cycle racing for 30 years until his early 70s. Meanwhile, Eileen played hockey, badminton and enjoyed walking with friends.
The couple are raising money for Parkinson’s UK, a cause close to the couple’s heart as John’s sister, Joan, 79, has lived with the condition for 20 years.
To donate to their JustGiving page, visit https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/Eileen-Hieron.
John and I realise that we are lucky to still be able to run and keep active EILEEN HIERON
they’re very