AN OCTOGENARIAN from Great Alne is taking part in the London Marathon, 42 years after he last ran the race.
Eighty-four year-old Paul Watson, a resident of Great Alne Park retirement village, will be toeing the start line alongside thousands of other runners on April 26.
Paul was inspired to start back up running in 2023 following a fitness talk at the retirement village by local chartered physiotherapist Sharon and orthopaedic surgeon Steve Young.
He had a hip replacement at Warwick Hospital in June 2024, mid-training. He recovered and kept going.
And he already proved himself last September, finishing the Cheltenham Half Marathon in 2:09 – first in the 80+ age group.
Paul is running for the RNID in honour of his wife Dorothy, who relies on a cochlear implant to hear.
Visit justgiving.com/page/paul-watson4 to donate.
