Running legend Deirdre Larkin has some fond memories of Christmas and the holiday period.
The 90-year-old Fontainebleau resident said in recent years she had ‘toasted cheese and wine’ to celebrate Christmas with close family, but she was expecting more this time round.
“My son will be visiting with his family from London and we will have a family meal at my other son’s house,” she said.
Mother to her daughter Katherine, and three sons John, Caspar and Richard (John has since passed away), Larkin also has four grandchildren.
Family is one of the most important things in life, according to Larkin.
“I don’t look back very much, I try to look forward. But I have had a few lovely Christmases in England in the past. Of course it was always cold and we had to spend it indoors.”
One memory in particular is close to her heart.
“We once got all three of my sons bicycles for Christmas. My youngest, Richard, had a tricycle, and they spent the day riding.”
Last year, Richard gave his mother a Cameron Diaz book about ageing well.
This is easy for Larkin, who still runs 10km regularly and wins the 65+ age category at races.
Larkin only started running at 78, and she is the world record-holder for her age category in half marathons.
She set the record of 02:04:00 at the 2017 Geneva Marathon in Switzerland.
Larkin’s only wish for Christmas is for her children to be happy.
