“I ran 75 marathons in 75 days aged 75 – here are my top tips for older runners”

Like so many of us, Ray, now 82, had a sporting background in his youth, and he trained as a boxer. But then, like so many of us, that took a back seat when he had to earn a living.  

“My coach back then was brilliant, though, and taught me so many things,  like the value of how to keep going when it gets really hard,” he recalls. 

It’s that mindset that got him off the couch and onto the road, where he discovered that he loved running. “I remember loving a local 10k [six miles, 376 yards] I ran in, then I did the Great North Run and loved that. I enjoyed the satisfaction of it all.” 

Of course, loving running and the fitness and health associated with it is only part of the story behind Ray’s journey. Chatting to him about all the places he has run, it’s quickly clear that this is a driven man who is as much about giving back to the community as he is about simply running for fun.  

His success – he modestly describes the 75 marathons in 75 days as “a birthday present to me and something to satisfy my own whims” – has generated thousands of pounds in donations, and hours of airtime on the BBC and ITV. All of which he has put to good use. He’s an ambassador for Age UK and has created community hubs in places likes Morrisons and Tesco, where people can meet for a chat to combat loneliness. 

Remember, “old people go shopping, too,” laughs Ray, happy to report they’ve been a huge success in his hometown of Rotherham, South Yorkshire. 

Not even the Covid lockdown slowed him, and he created a virtual 10k running event open to all. Older Rotherham residents took part and even his aunt, who is in her nineties, logged how many times she went up and down stairs. “It all counts,” says Ray, keen to emphasise that it’s all about discovering what you can tackle. 

“I’m lucky,” he admits. “My body seems to be able to take a lot, so I challenge it accordingly. But if 10k is your maximum and a really tough challenge, then brilliant. We all need challenges.” 

Ray’s running has taken him all over the world, from Hawaii to the Sahara. Also, it’s also helped him raise huge amounts of money for local causes. “I wanted to raise £75k for Newman School [which caters for children with special educational needs and disabilities]. It’s an amazing place and the children are educated by some amazing people.” 

He met with the head teacher and discovered they needed wheelchair friendly swings, a new rubberised playground for children learning to walk again, and some other kit. So, he started to raise the money through his running – £38,000 in total. 

That was short of his hoped-for sum, but Ray, as you’ll know by now, doesn’t give in easily. After a few phone calls, a chance meeting, and hard work, he got two local construction companies in on the act to donate time and resources. And before you know it, the school also had a specially created forest trail in the woods next door. 

Perhaps Ray owes it all to where he lives. “I have an advantage over you,” he jokes, as we chat about our running and where we live (in the flat Fens for me). “I live on a massive hill and always on a Thursday I’ll run up and down it for a tough session. That sets me up perfectly and makes everything else seem easy!” 

Professional athletes always seem to have a huge back-up crew associated with their success and for Ray that means his wife Maureen. He does, however, admit he visits a physio regularly to make sure any niggles don’t get any worse. “Create your own squad and use them to help you,” he says.  

“I just eat good wholesome food,” says Ray. “It helps [that] my wife is a cook, and it helps I can eat a five-course meal on the move,” he laughs.  

 “Once, 115 miles into a 150-mile–long run I had two lamb chops at 4am.” So, there you are: a well-balanced diet works wonders! 

“I wear New Balance 860s – perfect cushioned shoes,” says Ray. “It’s always worth investing in a proper pair of shoes suitable for what you have in mind. I run a lot, so I have a lot of pairs,” he laughs. 

Work out what’s tough for you personally – be that 10k or 100k – and prepare properly and give it a go. Simple, yet fun.