248 years old – Old-timers out to prove that age is just a number at Trailwalker
With permission to compete as a team of three after their 62-year-old talisman fractures a foot, retired HK marathon runners set off on their latest journey
One of the last to depart at this year’s Oxfram Trailwalker was a team wearing purple shirts that said ‘248 years old. 8 legs. 4 old men. 1 heart.’ What do these numbers mean?
“We’re all over 60,” said Chan Yan-yin, 61. “If you add of our ages together, it makes 248 years old.”
Neighbouring trailrunners glanced at the group of Hong Kong seniors as they loosened up with some jogs and stretches. Do not be fooled, however; all four are retired marathon runners representing Marathon Training Centre.
“We are all marathoners,” said 63-year-old David Chan, who is fresh off running the New York Marathon earlier this month. “It’s my first trailwalk. Basically, our stamina is good but we lack a bit of strength.”
Chan has run 22 marathons since his retirement in 2008; he was on the treadmill one day when he saw a live marathon shown on TV. The rest is history.