Eighty-nine-year-old runner Deirdre Larkin poses for a photograph, 2 September 2021, at her home in Randburg, in-front of a wall of medals she has achieved since she took-up running 10 years ago. Picture: Michel Bega
You don’t usually associate 89-year-olds and road running.
On Saturday, we ran a profile on the remarkable feats of 89-year-old running enthusiast Deirdre Larkin.
She not only runs or walks every day, she does it in an astonishing pace. Larkin, who turns 90 later this month, broke the masters world record in the 85-89 age group when completing a half-marathon in Switzerland in 2017 in a time of 2:05.13.
She also holds the 10km world records in the 80-84 (54.17) and 85-89 (59:51) age divisions.
Larkin said: “I tried things like yoga and pilates, but I didn’t like them much. My youngest son, Richard, used to run during the week before work, so I started copying him. I seemed well able to cope with the running, so I went to race after race. I enjoy them immensely.”
There’s plenty we can all learn from Run Zone Club’s Larkin.
She only took up running at the age of 78, after being diagnosed with osteoporosis. It shows it’s never too late to start exercising.
We are not saying everyone must start running marathons.
As she says “you can start by walking. Any form of exercise can help and you can walk at any speed.”
If there’s one thing the last 18 months of Covid-19 has taught us, it’s taking care of your health.
Larkin is an inspiration to all.
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