Jerry Lockspeiser

A SEPTUAGENARIAN runner who recently won a half-marathon in Sweden is now preparing to smash the record at his running club.

Jerry Lockspeiser, 70, from Angel, won the Gothenburg Half Marathon in the over-70s age group last month coming in at 1 hour 49 minutes – which he said was slow for him, due to an injury sustained three weeks earlier.

The entrepreneur, who runs four times a week and has a personal trainer twice a week, is now setting his sights on a run in Finland next week.

Mr Lockspeiser said: “The day itself was very hot -24 degrees with very little shade and hilly the first 6kms. It has been on my bucket list for a while and was an enjoyable day with fun atmosphere for all.”

Mr Lockspeiser said he began running in his early 50s for his physical and mental health and believes all older people should be involved in sport to improve their life expectancy.

His next run is the Half Marathon in the Tampere European Masters Games in July. The games hold various events in different sports from running to kayaking, and is an opportunity for mature athletes to compete.

Mr Lockspeiser will be attempting to run the fastest ever Half Marathon time any male runner aged 70-75 has ever run in the history of the Serpentine Running Club.