81-year-old Bluff Comrades runner loves what she does
Love what you do and have a goal.
DESCRIBED as an inspiration, Joan Schoeman, an 81-year-old Harlequins Athletics Club (Quins AC) runner, believes success is a matter of loving what you do.
As Quins AC’s oldest club member, Joan completed the Maritzburg half-marathon on Sunday, 26 February in a time of 2.57.25 – a result many half her age would be proud of.
Joan has been running for 24 years, since she joined Quins AC in 1993. Since then she has completed 27 marathons and ultras plus three Comrades. She also walked the Comrades route in August 1996 and garnered a silver medal for being the second grandmaster home.
She started running because she wanted to enjoy the amity and the test of fortitude that the Comrades offers.
“I love the feeling of enjoyment, open spaces and the adrenalin rush of running,” she said. “My most memorable run was the Two Oceans in 2000 where I was the first grandmaster lady home.”
The octogenarian enjoys reading, doing crosswords and puzzles and does yoga twice a week. Fitness is a family affair, as all three of her sons either run, cycle or walk.
“I worked at Romatex for 35 years in accounting, pensions and paymaster. I retired in 1995 and restarted in 1996 at a pensions administration company until December 1999 when I was approached by a company Fundwise where I worked until 2003.”
For those who want to succeed in running, or in life, Joan has this advice: “Have a goal and just love what you are doing.”
