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At 97 years old, Grace Chambers has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming Europe’s oldest Parkrunner to complete 250 runs. Her most recent 5k run took place at Ormeau Park in south Belfast. Just four weeks prior, Grace had a stent fitted, but that didn’t deter her from participating in the run on Saturday. Remarkably, Grace only took up running at the age of 88, and she has no intentions of slowing down anytime soon.
Grace embarked on her Parkrun journey when a member of her rehabilitation team, who volunteered at Ormeau Parkrun, suggested she give it a try. With a little push from one of her daughters, Grace attended her first Parkrun in 2016, quickly becoming a standout participant. She fondly recalls the initial reaction from others, stating, “Everyone kept saying: ‘This woman in her 80s has turned up thinking she can do a parkrun.’ Well, I certainly showed them,” she chuckled.
Throughout her time at the community event, Grace set numerous records within her age group during her first year of running. She expressed her love for the camaraderie at Parkrun, emphasizing the diverse mix of people from across Northern Ireland who come together for the event. Despite the suspension of Parkruns in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Grace remained undeterred and continued running independently.
With her resilient spirit, Grace didn’t let a broken leg, sustained while walking during the pandemic, hold her back. She promptly returned to Parkruns once she had recovered, with the support of her friends Cathy and Sue. In reflecting on her achievements, Grace modestly stated, “I’ve probably done a lot more than 250 Parkruns, but the ones during Covid don’t count.” She credits her friends for their unwavering support in helping her stay committed to her running routine
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