‘There’s camaraderie, even though we’re rivals’
Kath Stewart, 82, from North Tyneside, broke her own British record to win the women’s 400m event in the 80-84-year age group at last year’s British Masters Championships.
I was in my 40s when, as a physiotherapist, I wanted to raise money for people who had hip and knee joint replacements. My colleague and I agreed to try to run the Great
North Run. Our training regime started with us running about 50m and collapsing, exhausted.
The first time we ran a mile, we gave each other a big hug. When we completed the Great North Run, I caught the bug and I started training to run a marathon.
My husband Ron, 80, is my coach. He coaches a group of us at our running club and I’m by far the oldest, but they are all so encouraging. I’m not easy to coach as I’m a nervous runner, but Ron keeps me calm. Other runners step up to the start line focused on the time they want to beat, but I’m no good with numbers.
The first time I broke a world record was in 2005 for the 1,500m, when
I was 65. When I’d finished the race, Ron told me to look up at the leader board. I saw my name and WR next to it and presumed I’d been disqualified. Ron smiled and told me to wait for the announcements. When I heard ‘Kathleen Stewart, new world record!’ I was overcome.
Although I like to win, I don’t like being on the podium because I don’t like showing off. I like to run quietly. But big events like the British Masters Championships are magical. There’s great camaraderie, even though we compete against each other. We admire, respect and care about each other.
Our three children are so supportive, but my twin sister Christine worries about me. I always ring her afterwards and say
I ran my race and I’m still alive and kicking. My mum Ethel lived to 102 and was my greatest cheerleader. Mum used to say that in her day, women didn’t run, so she lived her dreams through me. I’m so lucky I can still run but I don’t worry about what the future will bring. I live for today because, today, I can run.
‘I was 65 when I first broke a world record for the 1,500m’