Hip hip hooray (From Bournemouth Echo)

Hip hip hooray

7:00am Saturday 25th October 2008 in

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AFTER two hip replacements most pensioners would be quite content sitting in front of the TV with their slippers on.

But not super-fit 87-year-old Bruce Davidson.

The Hampshire grandfather is more at home in the New Forest with his trainers on running up to 20 miles a week.

Bruce, who lives in Bransgore, took up running shortly after retiring at the age of 66 and has since completed countless running competitions including 30 marathons.

His achievements include marathons in New York, Paris, Norway, Athens, France and seven in London.

Only two years ago Bruce travelled to America to take part in his second New York Marathon.

Those taking part in tomorrow’s Great South Run in Portsmouth should note that Bruce achieved a personal best of 1hr 13min aged 70 when it was first held in Southampton.

Bruce, who used to run a caravan business, said: “I took up running after I retired and after two or three years I joined New Forest Runners.

“I missed out for about three years during that time, as I had to have two hip replacements.

“I was a bit worried that might be the end of it.

“But I’ve been running with them eight years now and I just hope the hips last a bit longer. The doctors haven’t been too enthusiastic, though.

“I’ve done about 30 marathons and I have thoroughly enjoyed them all. I love the camaraderie.

“Running is everything to me. I have always kept myself pretty fit. I equate being a runner to that of a car engine – if you flog the car to death you are not going to last very long. But I still want to be running when I’m 90.”

Bruce’s next challenge is to run the Christmas Pudding 10k in Christchurch followed by a half marathon in the spring.

He added: “If I can get through those then I wouldn’t mind doing the Medoc Marathon in France. It’s a fun marathon – and you get to drink wine at every other mile.

“If I become an embarrassment then I will pack it in but my main objective is that I don’t finish last.

“As long as I can do that then I will keep on going.”

Dr Stuart Bruce-Low, senior lecturer in sport and exercise science at Southampton Solent University, said: “Potentially anything is possible at that age, but you should go to your GP if you want to start training in your 80s.

“As he has been training for a number of years it is fine to continue as he is.

“Research suggests that if you can maintain muscle mass then you can slow the ageing process and the degradation of the human physique.

“But of course everybody is an individual and you can argue that Bruce has good genes. There is nothing to stop you improving your fitness levels when you are elderly.”