Caroline Campbell, aged 80, says running keeps her "sharp as a tack".(ABC News: Lottie Twyford)
Caroline Campbell not only still runs marathons at 80 years of age, she breaks world records while doing so.
But despite her successes, she doesn't run for records or medals. Rather, she credits running with her survival.
Like many of her generation, Ms Campbell did not grow up as an athlete.
"As a child growing up in Ireland, I wasn't allowed to run," she says.
"Girls weren't allowed to do any sports other than hockey.
"I used to envy the boys doing the cross country. I wanted to be out there with them."
Caroline Campbell competing in the 2000 Sydney Marathon, when she was in her fifties.(Supplied)
Her
first foray into running was in the late 1990s, when a friend at work
suggested to her that they run the Sydney Marathon together.
Ms Campbell was initially hesitant but went along with it.
However, a month before the race, tragedy struck: her husband of 23 years died.
"It was a horrible time," she says.
"Every time I would go on my long runs, I would cry and cry because I knew people would think it was sweat.
"But I just kept going because I knew he would have wanted me to."
That was more than two decades ago, and, true to her word, Ms Campbell hasn't stopped.
She's sure that, without running, she would have turned to alcohol or another vice to cope with her grief.
'Good for your brain'
On
her 80th birthday last year, Ms Campbell decided she would set out and
run another marathon — her 10th — with a simple goal in mind: "just to
finish it".
This year, for her 81st birthday, she's preparing to tackle next weekend's 14-kilometre City2Surf in Sydney.
Her
highlight of this year's running season was breaking the age-group
world record at the World Cross Country Championships in February.
Running, she says, keeps her physically and mentally fit.
"Going
round and round on the track gets a bit boring but it's good for your
brain, because you have to concentrate on what you're doing," she says.
"You
can't stop focusing on your breathing, on your time and on whether
you're going to hit the inside edge [of the track] or another runner.
"It keeps me sharp as a tack."
Habit that's hard to break
ACT Masters Athletics secretary Robbie Costmeyer has been a keen runner most of his life.(ABC News: Lottie Twyford)
Ms
Campbell trains with and competes regularly against other masters
athletes in Canberra, even braving the city's frosty winter mornings
once a month to race on the trails.
About 200 people are involved in ACT Masters Athletics, which is open to anyone 30 or older.
The
group's secretary, Robbie Costmeyer, says the sport offers something
for everyone, even those who may be wary of running around and around on
a track.
"We do have bush
runs, we have throws, we have all the track-and-field events, as well as
opportunities to compete interstate and renew our friendships," he
says.
Mr Costmeyer's own journey to athletics is more traditional; he started competing as a schoolboy.
But at age 25 he was told he could no longer run.
"I went to the doctor and was told I had the skeleton of an 80-year-old due to the arthritis in my hip and my back," he says.
"But I was booked in for a half-marathon in two weeks – my first ever.
"So I did that race and said I would stop afterwards."
Mr Costmeyer could not keep that promise. Fifty years later, he is still going.
Running not for everyone
Kirra Rankin says most older people should prioritise strength and balance exercises.(Supplied)
Exercise physiologist Kirra Rankin says she sees the benefits of running at an advanced age.
"At
that age, a lot of people experience depression and loneliness, so the
beauty of running is that you can find a group of people around your age
or ability and run with them," she says
However, Ms Rankin does not advocate that everyone laces up their shoes and begins to pound the pavement.
"Running should only be done if it's safe," she says.
"Every second person aged over 65 will have a fall, so prescribing running, on land at least, would be irresponsible.
"Most people aged over 65 should be focusing on balance and strength."
Ms Campbell acknowledges the importance of listening to her body, but says she won't be hanging up her sneakers anytime soon.
"Rest and recovery are also important for me," she says.
"When I feel tired, I walk or do gardening. When I feel good, I put the pressure on."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment