James Ferguson was one of the oldest participants in this year’s London Marathon and he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon!
“You’re never too old to run a marathon – that’s my slogan! Support from my family and friends gave me the determination to get to the end, especially when I had to walk the last 4 miles as my knees gave out.
“Everyone has been telling me that this year will be the last time I run such a distance, and considering my knee ligament issues I can understand why they would think that – but me and my sports physiotherapist are working on how to overcome my injuries, so maybe we’ll prove them wrong.
“In 6 months, if my legs have improved, I’ll take on a half marathon to see how I get on. However, I have already put my name forward for the 2025 London Marathon ballot, so I have high hopes! I have also just been accepted for the 2025 Ride London 100-mile bike ride.
His motivation
“When you’re older, you need something to aim for to keep your mind and body motivated. As someone with Asperger’s, taking on new things can be its own challenge, but without them, I’d just feel bored and lazy!
“I ran my first marathon at 45 in 1999, back when the London Marathon was organised by Flora, the well-known margarine.”
I decided to take on the 2024 London Marathon after watching the 2023 event on TV. I wanted to push myself and this was the perfect opportunity! My wife Colleen was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015, and I wanted to represent and fundraise for a charity that supports those affected by the disease. Apart from slight fatigue, my wife had no obvious symptoms.
“She saw her GP and after a CT scan, doctors discovered a golf ball-sized tumour at the base of her left lung. She was a non-smoker, so the diagnosis came as a shock to both of us. It was strange that our German shepherd kept alerting her to something before seeing a GP, but she didn’t know what until after her diagnosis! It was peculiar, our dog kept staring at my wife’s mouth and looking up at her.
“Thankfully, her cancer was caught at stage 1 and after treatment and surgery, she was given the all-clear. Colleen and our dog Inca were even invited to the ITV show Good Morning Britain to share their story!
“Learning that Roy Castle was also a non-smoker helped solidify my decision to run for Colleen and Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (especially as I used to play trumpet like Roy). So, I emailed them with the story of my wife and said I wanted to celebrate my 70th birthday too. Lo and behold about a week later I was offered the place!
James’ reason for taking on the London Marathon
“It was so lovely having my wife cheer me on and the support from all my family. We have two children together, our daughter, 35, is a primary school teacher and our son, 30, is a mathematician working as an IT programmer living in Canada.
“Me and my wife met in 1971 on a blind date. We went to see the cult film Vanishing Point and the rest is history! I worked in Landscape Management for many years since 1978 and have lectured at colleges too. In the mid 90’s I decided to change my career and trained in health & safety. I finally retired in 2021.
“Like many, I love to repair things, so general DIY and gardening are firm hobbies of mine. I also love mechanics and have owned motorbikes since the age of 16. Since retiring, I’ve also picked up the pleasure of reading.
“Living with Aspergers does require effort every day to deal with life and this sometimes takes up more time and energy than you would like, so sometimes I do not seem to find the time to do more of the fun things in life.
“I am not complaining as I am very lucky with what I have achieved and what I have in life.
The 2024 London Marathon was 6 months of extra but enjoyable work. Unfortunately, the joy of any success is short-lived with me and I am now looking for the next thing to dedicate myself to!
His tips for future runners
“My tips for anyone taking on the London Marathon next year are simple. Use Vaseline in your socks to stop blisters – it sounds odd, but it works. Always warm up before you run. Follow the training advice on the official London Marathon website.
Put plasters over your nipples. Chafing can be a nightmare. Make sure your running shoes are half a size bigger than normal. Your feet can swell over long distances.
Stretch at the end of the race to ease aches the next day. And most importantly, keep your hydration levels up, especially if you’re older.”
For runners with additional needs
“For anyone with Asperger’s thinking about taking part next year, I know how hard it feels to be near big crowds. Try to have a support system if you can. My wife has always been that for me and she pushes me out of my comfort zone when I need it.
“It also helps to research the site before you go. Learn where the facilities are so you know where to go when you need them. This can ease stress and anxiety. It also helps to know where stewards stand.
“I was impressed with how well the London Marathon was organised. It felt like a relief to see stewards all along the route. The clear signs made everything easier. That was a major plus for me.”