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The
Fourth Age
Reg now began what he called his
Fourth Age, setting himself a series of objectives,
almost all of which would eventually be accomplished.
One of the first was to run a marathon in less than 5
hours. |
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Reg out on a training run. |
During his first two years of
running he completed the 1985 Wolverhampton Marathon,
followed by the 1985 Manchester Piccadilly Radio
Marathon, which he finished in 5hours, 35 minutes and 53
seconds, raising £260 for the Mid Staffordshire branch
of the Asthma Society.
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| He also completed the 1986 London Marathon, the 1986
Glasgow Marathon, 7 half marathons, six 10 mile road
races, one 30 kilometer road race, eight 10 kilometer
road races, several legs of the 1985 Great Britain Fun
Run and took part in the “Running Sixties” Paris to
London relay in 1986. An eventful two years. All of
this was just the start of an extremely successful
running career, of which any younger runner would be
justifiably proud. But of course Reg was 78 at the time.
1987 would be another significant year, with many
successes. During the year he completed 5 half
marathons, one 20 mile road race, four 10 mile road
races, seven 10 kilometre road races, the Wolverhampton
Marathon, the London Marathon, and the Potteries
Marathon. He also took part in the “Running Sixties”
John O’Groats to Land’s End relay.
His training programme was
interrupted during the year as a result of a
strangulated hernia which he suffered during a mountain
climbing holiday in Austria.
By October he was in training again
and celebrated his 80th birthday in style
with a run from Llanberis to the summit of Snowdon and
back. |
| He arrived at Portdinorwic to plan the run,
accompanied by his running partner Madge Sharples, his
son Vic, and other family members.
When interviewed by the press he said “I’m just
praying the weather will hold out. If it’s bad then I’ve
got an alternative route from Holyhead to Bangor, but
I’d really like to do the mountain run.”
Reg thought that the event would be a fitting tribute
to his Welsh ancestors who came from Llanfair Talhaearn,
where his grandfather was postmaster. |
Madge and Reg prepare for their
Snowdon run. |
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The run had been planned to take
place on his birthday, Thursday 29th October.
Luckily the weather held and the party set off on their
five mile ascent of the mountain, starting off at around
300ft. above sea level and rising to the 3,560ft summit.
The run, to the summit and back was completed in just
over 3 hours, quite an achievement, especially for an 80
year old.
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Return to the
Third Age |
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Return to
the
beginning |
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Proceed to
Fund Raising |
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