The oldest runner in town – London Town!
Our club legend, Harry Newton, has been contacted by the organisers of the TCS London Marathon 2026 to say that at 88 he will be the oldest person in this year’s event.
Harry has run London 21 times – his first time being in 1995 at the age of 57, and he’s done 31 marathons in total (including one made up of laps of his garden in Covid!).
I posed him a few questions:
How did you start with the Harriers, Harry?
I’d been nominated to carry the baton, sponsored by Cadbury’s, for the Commonwealth Games in 2002 in Manchester, which got me thinking I’d like to run another marathon when I was 65. I had run London, New York, London in consecutive years – 1995, 96, 97 – but then had a short break. I met Mark Wheelton (another baton holder) who suggested I should join the Harriers and do some decent training!
So I turned up at the overflow car park one Monday night where Dave Jackson said we’d drive to Beech Lane and run up to Kerridge Ridge. The rest was history and I ran regularly with C Group on a Mon and Thurs for a good few years.
What milestones have you had in your marathon career?
I did complete a marathon at 65 and ran London in 2003 in 4 hrs, 5 mins (just 5 mins over the Good for Age time). So, I went and ran Lake Vyrnwy in Wales, finishing in 3hrs 58m 30s which got me a Good for Age place for London the next year – and I managed to hold on to my Good for Age place for the next 20 years. My PB at London was 3hrs 52 mins and 30 secs when I was 70.
Having just missed Good for Age in London and Manchester (by 9 mins and 11 mins!) in the last couple of years, I decided to go to Morecambe last September and got Good for Age with 5 hrs 56 mins and 5 secs. This meant the road to London was set again!
How‘s training been going?
Pretty much according to plan – maybe a bit slower than usual.
What’s your favourite bit of the course?
Tower Bridge – nearly half way!
What’s the best bit of running London?
The support from the crowds and the amazing atmosphere – people you don’t know at all just shouting your name.
And the worst bit?
The last 6 miles!
Will your family be coming down?
Yes, 18 of them – including babies to cheer me on!
What advice would you give to someone running their first marathon?
Be patient with yourself – and don’t do anything silly in the last few weeks before the marathon.
What do you think about when the going gets tough?
Just get the job done. Hang in there.
What’s your secret?
Pacing right, not going off too fast and learning how to run slowly.
What’s the craziest costume you’ve ever overtaken?
I have seen Big Ben running along!
Why is the British Heart Foundation (BHF) your chosen charity?
Because coronary heart disease remains the single biggest killer worldwide. I want to support the BHF in their research and in the work they do to help people.
Good luck Harry on Sun 26th April 2026 – it’s a privilege to have you in our club!
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As mentioned, Harry is running for the British Heart Foundation – to spur him on his way, please donate here if you can.
LINK TO HARRY’S FUNDRAISING PAGE FOR BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION
Thanks to Lindsey Russell (Wordy Bird) for the article and to James Russell (James Russell Photography) for the images