Man, 91, completing Parkruns an 'inspiration'

A man has celebrated his 91st birthday by completing a 5km (3.1-mile) run, despite undergoing a recent hip operation.

Denis Paine, from Halfway on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, took part in the Parkrun in Minster on Saturday.

The pensioner, who only took up the sport in his 80s, has completed hundreds of the runs in recent years.

He said: "I'll keep running until my legs won't let me."

The keen cyclist said: "I used to do cycle and motorbike racing but I'd never done any running until I was 83.

"I saw one of my daughters taking part in a Parkrun and thought I'd give it a try."

Now he hardly ever misses a week although he admitted: "Saturday's run was very hard.

"The wind was very strong and the sun was in my eyes."

The nonagenarian came off his bike and broke his hip in April.

He now has a pin in it.

He said: "My physiotherapist got me walking and now I'm back running.

"I'm gradually improving but it's taking a long time."

The 91-year-old's personal best time currently stands at 33 minutes 29 seconds.

To help celebrate his birthday two of his three daughters took part with him on Saturday.

Karen Green said: "One day he said he wanted to have a go.

"We thought he meant he was going to walk it but no, he decided to run and he hasn't stopped since.

"He is an inspiration to everyone."

Run director Tony Potter said: "Denis is amazing.

"It just proves that you can take up running at any age."

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