A gran of 10 is running a half-marathon this weekend to raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland.
71-year-old Catherine Wilson will be racing in the Great Scottish Run for the third time on October 2. She is far from a stranger to racing, having also run a marathon, 10k races and much more.
Catherine started running when she was 65, when she was inspired to raise money for the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
READ MORE: Glasgow Life to re-open 18 community venues as 'welcoming places'
Catherine said: “I hadn’t run anywhere since I was about 12. But when I was 65 my daughter Karen’s baby was born prematurely. I wanted to do something for the hospital and it was my daughter who said we should sign up to do a race, so it all started from there.”
Catherine caught the running bug and signed up to take part in organised 5km runs each Saturday. She then joined Kilbarchan Amateur Athletic Club and took part in their training sessions, which she still does each week.
“I do three or four races a year, always for a different charity. I know with my age I’ll have to stop at one point, but I want to keep going as long as I can," she said.
“I’ve met so many lovely people through running, whether through the Park Runs on a Saturday morning or Kilbarchan AAC. For my first race, one of the ladies who was much faster ran with me the whole way to keep me motivated. Running is full of people like that. It happens in the Great Scottish Run too, and the crowd is always very noisy and supportive! It gives you a boost.”
Catherine says the key to taking up running, no matter what your age, is to take it at your own pace.
“You can do a couch to 5k programme, find a running club or just go out on your own. Run a bit, walk a bit, run a bit and walk a bit - that’s how I got started and now I’ve got marathons under my belt.”
Raising money for charities is one of the reasons Catherine runs, but she’s also learned to love the sense of achievement that comes with finishing a race.
“I left school when I was 15 and went straight into work until I retired. When I get these medals and certificates and everything it really means a lot. I received a lovely letter from our local MSP Neil Bibby too, which is up on the wall.”
Catherine trains three times a week and one of her top training tips is not to eat too much before a race.
“I found crunchy electrolyte cubes in a sports shop and they are great for keeping me going on a long run.
“The best training tip I can give is just to keep at it, and go slowly whenever you need to.”
Catherine’s family will be cheering her on at the Great Scottish Run because as she says laughing “I’ve not managed to get any of them to run with me since I lapped my daughter.”
There are still places available on the Great Scottish Run, just visit greatrun.org/Scotland to register.
READ NEXT:
Glasgow charity gives out £2.50 vouchers as food banks restrict visits amid falling donations
Eurovision 2023: Glasgow and Liverpool selected as top two finalists to host song contest
Creepy Glasgow carer keeps his job after string of crude comments to workmates
Glasgow nurse killer Alexander Pacteau too sick for court is cleared of prison riot
Luxury Glasgow Airbnb flat ordered to stop operating after resident complaint
