Brian wraps up 10k race (From Daily Echo)

Brian wraps up 10k race

12:30pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Rebecca Pearson, Reporter

HE may be in his 70s, but he doesn’t need much preparation for the Daily Echo-backed Wrap Up and Run 10K event.

Brian Grierson, from Rownhams, has been running at events for nearly three decades and regularly represents the UK at triathlon and duathlon championships.

Running the Age UK Wrap Up and Run 10k event, which comes to Southampton for the first time this year, Brian hopes to inspire other older people to become more active, while raising money for Age UK, supporting elderly people across the country.

Brian, who will turn 73 before the run on March 17, has competed in a number of national and international triathlon and duathlon championships.

He won a silver medal last time he represented the UK, at the 2011 Euro triathlon championships.

The retired Pirelli Cables draftsman is keen to keep as fit as possible and swims with his wife, Janet, at Totton Health and Leisure Centre three times a week, he takes part in the Southampton Common Park Run most Saturday mornings and is a member of running club, Lordshill Road Runners and Sotonia Cycling Club.

He said: “A lot of elderly people don’t realise older people take part in sport.

“It’s opening people's eyes to see that there are quite a lot of elderly people who make an effort to keep fit.

“The fitter your body is the better you can deal with whatever you’ve got to deal with health-wise.”

“It’s probably more important to keep fit when you’re older than when you’re younger and the more you do the easier it gets.”

“I had prostate cancer when I was 62 years old and that gave me the motivation to push through.

“Sport is an early warning system. If I’m not doing well, I know I need to get checked out.”

Brian will be running alongside gardening queen Charlie Dimmock at the event on March 17, which will raise thousands for Age UK’s Spread the Warmth Campaign, making winter warmer for vulnerable people across the UK.