At 85 years old, Helen showed no signs of slowing down as she set a new UK Masters 5K record at RunThrough’s Southampton Running Festival on June 16th. With a gun time of 35:36, Helen shattered the previous record of 45:15 by an impressive margin, proving once again that age is no barrier to remarkable achievements.
Helen’s journey into running only began seven years ago, at the age of 79, when her three sons encouraged her to join them in local 5K races in Poole. Despite never having run before, she embraced the challenge and quickly developed a passion for the sport. Since then, she has become a regular face at races, showing up with unwavering dedication, rain or shine.
Incredibly, at the age of 84, Helen had already clocked a personal best of 31:26, a time that would be commendable for runners of any age. With her sights set on breaking the national 5K record for her age group, Helen’s performance at the Southampton Running Festival far surpassed the previous record set by Sheila Symonds in 2019.
Without access to a computer to track her results, Helen relies on her sons for updates on her race times, eagerly awaiting their lunchtime phone calls to hear the news. Her simple yet powerful mantra, “I’ll try my best,” has fueled her determination to keep pushing boundaries.
Helen’s achievement at the Southampton Running Festival is a testament to her perseverance, resilience, and the support of her family. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to take up new challenges, set ambitious goals, and achieve extraordinary feats.
Whether chasing personal bests or national records, Helen continues to inspire runners of all ages, proving that the joy of running has no age limit.