Colin Walks to a World Best Distance at the Age of 80

Colin Clifton doesn't let the grass grow under his feet. He's always on the move.

In October last year Colin set a world record for an 80-year-old when he walked 68.4km in 12 hours in the annual Sri Chinmoy long-distance track races in Auckland.

The retired farm and bush contractor from Tauranga walks and jogs about 100km a week, mainly in parks and on walkways.

At an average speed of around 7km/h, that means two hours every day.

"I can do that easily enough," he says. "Having retired and moved into a smaller house, I've got time on my hands." Enough time to enjoy his other hobby - hot-poker drawing on particle board.

Colin's joined on about half of his weekly 100km walks by his wife Pat.

"She's ten years younger than me - she's 70, just a youngster. She enjoys it."

Colin was an amateur boxer for 16 years as a young man.

He didn't start running till he was 43 when his four daughters joined the Tauranga Ramblers club. Like them he took part in harrier races.

"I wasn't a great runner but I could get along," he says.

He's been getting along now for more than 37 years.

His race record includes completing 12 Rotorua marathons and covering more than 150km in the annual Tauranga 24-hour event at the age of 69.

As for that world record walk last October, Colin believes he could have gone further.

"I'd been sick with a bad gastric flu and couldn't train," he says. "Being sick affected my balance and I could hardly walk across the road. I surprised myself - and everybody else."

Colin has no thoughts about giving daily walking away.

His advice to fellow seniors: "Get out and walk if at all possible."

Print | Bookmark