Charity runner, 86, advises 'listen to your body'

Barbara Thackray took up running at the age of 77

An 86-year-old runner, who is preparing to take on a 10k race, has urged anyone of a similar age who wants to start jogging to “begin gently and listen to your body”.

Barbara Thackray, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, took up running at the age of 77 to fundraise for St Ann’s Hospice, which cared for her sister.

She now runs 10k twice a week, which she said she found "healing and inspirational".

The retired college lecturer is due to run the Altrincham 10k with her son, nephew and grandson later.

Ms Thackray said it usually took about 90 minutes, adding: "I don't stop or walk at all."

She told BBC Radio Manchester: “On my 85th birthday, I was running in the Trafford 10k and that was a personal best of one hour 25 minutes.”

'Love nature'

She previously said she was glad she found running as it was “something that is keeping me fit as I’ve walked all my life”.

"In your 70s you can start new things, but I'm not convinced you can in your 80s, so I didn't want to risk it," she said.

"I'm a lark and best in the morning, so that's when I like to run, at 6 or 7 am. The only time I don't run is if it's snowing."

Ms Thackray, who has raised more than £26,000 for the hospice, said when she was out running, she would "say hello to the deer" in parks which was "important to me as I love nature, so I find it healing and inspirational".

Her efforts have proved inspirational to many and she agreed to appear in an Adidas advert, which featured sports stars including Mohamed Salah, if the sportswear firm made a “significant donation” to St Ann's Hospice.