Turning 80...and running

07/18/23 • 32 min

Kate turns 80 this year. Together with her sister Hilary and their friend Ros, who are both in their 80s, they have formed a highly personal running group called The Old Crones. A lifetime of friendship and around 40 years of shared running experience are membership requirements. The Old Crones are a very exclusive group indeed.
Through their group, The Old Crones share their runs, provide support and encouragement and meet up at events when they can. They now live hundreds of miles apart, but keep in touch through their exclusive What's App group of three.
"We may be shuffling along slowly but we can still do it," smiles Kate. "So while we can, we do."
Diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes, running three times a week, is an essential part of Kate's physical health too. She also does pilates and has recently started Tai-Chi.
Kate watched the first London Marathon in 1981 and remembers her friend saying then that it would be wonderful to do the race. "At the time, I thought 'What! I can't think of anything wonderful about that'...but something stayed with me...and then when it became a race anyone could do...not just elite runners...I thought well...yes."
Kate has completed the London Marathon and numerous Great North Runs with her son Nick, who loves running too, although he is somewhat faster than his mother. "In fact the last time (we did the Great North Run), he was back home in the hotel having a shower before I'd even started," she laughes.
Kate is a passionate advocate for ParkRun, with its motto of Movement For Everyone. We both agree, this movement has widened the joy of running to a whole new audience and Kate does her local ParkRun at Wycombe Rye most weekends. And when she doesn't run, she volunteers.
"Anyone can go...It's very inclusive," says Kate of the ParkRun movement. "There are no judgements. It's terribly encouraging and doesn't cost you anything."
When asked why she runs, Kate said: "I'm not a natural runner at all, but I think you owe it to your body to do it and, even if you have to drag yourself out on some days, you definitely feel better when you get back," she smiles.

Thank you for listening today.
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Previous Episode

Work pressures... and running

My guest today on Why Run? is Hasan, who works in finance - a career renowned for its high pressure and stressful lifestyle. In 2010, Hasan quit a job after months of long hours, little managerial support and mounting corporate demands . At the time, he had no other job to go to, but knew that 'a line had been crossed' and that he needed to leave work if he was to protect his mental health.
In 2017, a friend Hasan hadn't seen for many years commented that he had "ballooned", as a result of his lifestyle. At the time, Hasan said that the comment 'cut him to the heart', but it was the wake-up call he needed to start addressing his physical and mental health.
Hasan started walking and trained for the 70k Cancer Research UK - London to Brighton ultra walk. Always one for a challenge, Hasan completed the event in 33 hours. He then took up running.
In 2019, Hasan was made redundant and says that running coming into his life was a blessing, which has help sustain him through the challenges he has had to face. Not only did Hasan lose his job, but the consequences of Brexit and then COVID, made it impossible for him to find a new job. When he had been out of work for six months, Hasan and his wife found out that they were expecting a baby. It was an extremely worrying and distressing time for him and his family.
'Running became a big thing for me (at this time),' said Hasan. 'I'd go for a half hour run and clear my mind and get away from job applications and just come back refreshed.'
Today, Hasan has run five marathons; organises a lunchtime running group at his workplace; and is part of various running movements, including: Adidas Runners, Muslim Runners, parkrun and the Run Grateful movement
With so many people facing extreme work pressures at the moment and suffering from burn out, Hasan's story is particularly poignant and has valuable pointers for those seeking to manage work pressures.
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