THERE will be triple celebrations when 85-year-old Mosman grandfather Ron Stuart runs across the Sydney Harbour Bridge this month.
The veteran runner will be one of around 30,000 people taking part in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival on Sunday September 17.
And it won't only be Ron marking his 85-year milestone at the annual running event. It's also 85 years since the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the humble beginnings of the event's sponsor Blackmores, pioneered by naturopath Maurice Blackmore in 1932.
At this year's event, more than 33,000 participants will run across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and through some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Botanical Gardens.
With four courses there's a run for everyone including the 3.5km family fun run and 10km bridge run as well as a half marathon and marathon.
Grandfather Ron Stuart will be participating in the bridge run. He clocks up an impressive 30km running a week, to help keep him agile and maintain his physical and mental wellbeing.
"I run with a great group of people and the social interaction is really very beneficial to me. The running is now almost a by-product, it gives me a reason to get up in the morning and keeps me healthy and mobile," he said.
"Running not only keeps you fit and active, but it's good for the brain as one gets older."
Ron was a champion athlete as a young man but at age 26, his athletics career was cut short by polio. It wasn't until after his wife's death in 1991 that Ron decided to take up training again. He now runs regularly with the Northside Running Group in Sydney.
And with no signs of stopping any time soon, Ron believes it is important for his wellbeing to keep running for as long as he can.
"I have been relatively free from injuries, which I attribute to our trainer, so I have every reason to continue what I've been doing for so long.
"It's an honour to be running this race in the year of both Blackmores and the Harbour Bridge's 85th birthday.
"I am getting slower than I would like, but I still use a strong running action so I feel I am still running well. At the Masters Games in Auckland there was one competitor in the 100+ age category, so who knows when I will stop," he said.
On 19 March 1932 the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened to the public. The event marked the end of almost a century of speculation and planning around a bridge or tunnel that would cross the harbour.
In the same year, Maurice Blackmore opened one of Australia's first health food stores in Albert Street, Brisbane, and above the store ran a naturopathic practice which included physical and manipulative therapies, dietary counselling and herbal medicines.
Eight-five years on the company is now a global vitamin and supplement brand and has been a sponsor of the Sydney Running Festival for 13 years.
