Most 73-year-olds would have hung up their trainers a long time ago, but not Derek James.
He is taking on his fourth consecutive London Marathon in aid of Richard House Children’s Hospice, where he volunteers as a gardener.
“This will be my eighth marathon in total, and I did my first in 1985,” he said.
“A few years ago, Richard House were holding a pasta party for their marathon runners and I though, ‘I want to be a part of that’.
“So the next year I signed up for a place with them, and I enjoyed it and got a good time for my age so I decided to do it again.”
Derek, who lives in Silvertown, has been training regularly, including taking part in one run a week with the Barking Road Runners.
The former Pretoria Boys’ School and Eastlea Community School teacher said he was aiming for a time of around four hours.
“It might be closer to 4:30” he admitted.
“My best time was 3:04, but that was a long time ago.”
Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/derekjames to sponsor Derek.
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