AT 92, Roger Churchward says running keeps him fit and famous.
He’s been a keen runner for 42 years but finds that as he gets older there are fewer competitors in his age bracket.
That means he generally wins gold in events he enters, like the 1500 metres at October’s Australian Masters Games in Tasmania, even though he came last in the field.
He is a regular entrant in Run Melbourne and last year participated in the event with his son Graeme, grandson and great-grandson. He says his goal is to do the event when he’s 100.
“I started running by accident. I was in New Zealand on holidays when one moonlit night I was out walking with my daughter when she suggested we went for a run round an oval,” he said. “I collapsed after 100 metres, so decided I needed to get a bit fitter.”
He started running regularly, building up his distance and improving his times.
Then at Graeme’s suggestion, the pair entered a 13km fun run. Roger finished and collected his certificate, only to walk past his Graeme, still in the queue waiting for his – he’d beaten him to the line much to his son’s surprise, given their 30-year age difference.
“In 1995 I participated in a 10km run around the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit. There were 6000 entrants and it was dark by the time the medals were handed out,” Roger said.
“I nearly didn’t bother waiting around for the presentation, but ended up doing so and was shocked to receive the gold medal for the 70-74 year-old category.”
A decade later, he ran the half marathon in the World Masters Games in Edmonton, Canada.
“There were two groups - those under 50 and those over 50. Twelve thousand runners competed in the event, and as I went around I heard an announcer say ‘Here comes Roger Churchward, the oldest runner in the event’. I was 80 at the time and won gold in my category.”
Roger has always valued the fitness and health aspect of running.
But he admits it’s not getting any easier. He’s slowed down – at last year’s gold medal performance in the 1500 metres he clocked a time of 12: 23.52.
“It’s much more difficult now and my distances are getting shorter. I do a four-kilometre run/walk around my local area once a week. “I used to run along some creeks in the neighbourhood, but they seem to have got further away!”
He is particularly grateful that he has remained healthy and able to live independently.
“I take a number of supplements and try to eat a healthy diet. It’s been ages since I’ve been to a doctor.
“I have occasional troubles with sciatica – in fact, I was with friends from church in Rosebud recently and it troubled me to the point where I had to use a walking stick. My friends thought that was a great joke.”