A Broseley pensioner has completed – and exceeded – a mammoth challenge to mark her 65th birthday by running as many races in a year.
Kathy Ling , who is now 66 and a keen member of Wrekin Road Runners, was told it was impossible after she explained that she wanted to achieve the milestone instead of having a party.
Following her 65th birthday on September 26 2008 she had run in 65 events by June – and by September 20 had completed a remarkable 91 races when she competed in the Seven Bridges 10k at Shrewsbury.
Kathy’s other runs have included two in Iceland’s capital city Reykjavik, five half-marathons including one in Malta, many 5k and 10k runs including one in Lisbon, three triathlons and three aquathons.
“I have had a fantastic year,” said Kathy, who lives in Bridgnorth Road and continues to run at least one race a week. None of this could have happened without the help of my husband John, who has supported me 100 per cent and got dizzy changing my numbers, members of the Wrekin Road Runners who look after me and all the lads from the Black Country Triathlon Club who help me get ready for the tri events, as well as all the marshalls who know me at all the different racing events and who always very patiently waited for me.”