Age has not caught up with youthful runner Joan
Grandmother could leave many youngsters standing
MANY people would think about slowing down as they near their 75th birthday - but not Joan Brown who took up running nearly two years ago and now has the T-shirts and medals to prove it!
The grandmother of six initially took up running along with her daughter-in-law, she says, and emphasises that she has since discovered many benefits, not only regarding her fitness levels but also for good causes as she has raised more than 1000 for charity.
Joan, of Glen Fyne Road, Craigmarloch, explains: "I was getting older and wanted to lose some weight."
She has now crossed the finish line at four 10k races including the Glasgow's Women's 10K which takes place again in May, and September's Great Scottish Run - and is planning to take part in more events.
She and her husband Jim, 76, who celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last year, are also regular visitors to Lanzarote and have a timeshare in Puerto del Carmen. It was a holiday there that prompted Joan to put her name down for a race on the island.
"I signed up for the island's Lanzarote Quarter Marathon and completed it in one hour, 19 minutes and 32 seconds," she said.
A good incentive, she points out, was running the race for charity - and when she asked for suggestions as to who run the race for, she received a request from SARA, a Lanzarote-based animal welfare group.
The organisation was founded in 1987 when enough money was raised to save the 40 dogs awaiting death in the island pound, and a small animal shelter was set up.
Now, 14 years on, it has space for 130 dogs and 30 cats but as it receives no government help is solely dependent on donations. "It's a good cause and it does give you an incentive," says Joan. She is delighted to have now raised at least 2000 Euros for SARA despite being apprehensive about asking for sponsorship. "We had no idea what kind of reaction we would get so it was wonderful," she says.
A big help in her fitness regime, she adds, was the involvement of Steven McKeown, 42, who runs his own personal training business Think Fit from Broadwood Stadium. Joan says: "Without his advice and encouragement I would never have got involved in all this at my time of life!"
Steven, who won his first Scottish wrestling championships in 1973, says: "Some people's lifestyles are a bit 24/7 due to working unusual hours, but personal trainers have more flexible hours than fixed classes, offer special programmes for all medical conditions, are great at goal setting, motivating clients, making exercise fun and getting results for their client."
He has been training Joan for the last 18 months, and says: "As Joan's improvements of aerobic and physiological function increased it became apparent that setting a goal of a 10k jogging event would maintain her well-being and help her raise much needed support for charity."
What advice would he give anyone thinking about taking up running - any other age? "First get a health check up at your local GP," he says, "and buy good quality jogging trainers. Jogscotland runs programmes for complete beginners and for more information visit www.jogscotland.org.uk."
Joan adds that having a personal trainer helps with motivation and also keeps things varied. As for other tips for anyone thinking about taking up running, she says that whatever your age, you have to prepare yourself for it and take it slowly. "It is quite good to get together with other people," she adds.
And what does her husband think? Jim says: "I think it's great. She's fit now, really fit, and I think it's made a big difference to her whole outlook on life."
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Weather for Cumbernauld
Sunday 05 February 2012
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