Charity runner, 87, retires from racing

An 87-year-old runner who has raised more than £34,000 for charity is running her final race as she said “my body is telling me I have done plenty now”.

Barbara Thackray, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, took up running 10 years ago to raise money for St Ann’s Hospice in Cheadle which had looked after her sister before she died.

She said she would be retiring from racing after the Altrincham 10k later but not giving up running entirely.

“I’m not hanging up my running shoes but I am stopping racing,” she said.

She told BBC Radio Manchester: “My body is telling me ‘look Barbara you have done plenty now; this is your last [race]’.”

She said she had her grandson, her grandson’s partner and great nephew all running alongside her for her last race.

Ms Thackray said one of her highlights of her decade running races had been having so many family members running with her or supporting her from the sidelines.

“A lot are coming to cheer me on” for my final 10k, she added.

However, she said she would still be running for fun.