A marathon runner is still going strong at the age of 77.
John Curd from Southport has been running marathons for charity since 1985 and said "he does not plan to stop anytime soon". He fell into the sport at the age of 45 and to date has run in over 122 of them.
Not content to hang up his running shoes and retire John ran and cycled 2,485 miles for the Isla Rose Foundation this year recording the distance and times on his smart watch. Affectionately known as "marathon man" John started running after a colleague bet him that he could not complete a run across the length of Southport Beach.
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He said that after completing the race he was given a pair of running socks and from that moment on he was "hooked". Speaking to the ECHO John said: "I got into it quite late I still remember my first run it was for Alder Hey on the Dock Road and I did okay for a 45-year old I could crack out a 3.34 but I'm a bit slower now.
"I never needed too much training back then I was doing a marathon every other week. I used to get people to sponsor me for a charity and then I would plan my holidays around running I think the best marathon I did was in New York."
After the death of his mother running became a great source of comfort for John. He said: "I could not wait to show my mum the medals I had won. When my mum died I caved in and with the stress of my job I got more into my running and it was just an escape."
While he may not be running a marathon in under four hours anymore he said he will keep doing "all he can" to help people. John a former nurse said: "I just get a buzz out of doing it. One that I am helping people and as well as keeping fit but that part is just a bonus.
"I never plan to stop running I have diabetes and asthma it keeps me healthy. But I'm still knocking these runs out so why should I worry when the only thing that I'm losing is a bit of speed."
John is now planning to run a 124 miles for the the Isla Rose Foundation for anyone who would like to donate to the charity more information can be found here.
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