87-Year-Old Man Completes 400th Parkrun, Credits Activity for Longevity
David Carbert, who began running at age 77, believes his consistent participation in the weekly 5k events has added years to his life.
An 87-year-old man has celebrated completing his 400th Parkrun, attributing his continued activity to the physical and social benefits of the weekly event. David Carbert reached this milestone at the Humber Bridge Country Park Parkrun on Saturday, an event he joined a decade ago. He stated that he started participating because he did not want to spend his days inactive.
Carbert, who described himself as feeling "fairly fit and well," has expressed his intention to continue running with a goal of reaching 500 Parkruns, a target he anticipates achieving by the age of 90. Helen Penn, the director of the Humber Bridge Parkrun, called Carbert an inspiration to the event's participants. "We love him - he is an inspiration," Penn said.
Carbert prepares for each run with early morning stretches at home and participates regardless of the weather, unless conditions such as deep snow or ice make it unsafe. He recalled feeling apprehensive when he first joined the event at age 77. "I didn't want to make a fool of myself, but everyone welcomed me," he said. "You know it's one big happy family here."
While Carbert achieved his personal best time of 28 minutes and 13 seconds at the age of 80, he now completes the 5km (3.1-mile) course in approximately 38 minutes. "I think it will have added years to my life," he commented. "Really, I didn't want to sit around at home vegetating."
Tony Nicholson, a neighbor and long-time running companion of Carbert, referred to him as his role model. "We have a sprint at the end and he always wins," Nicholson joked. "It really annoys me."
Following his 400th Parkrun, Carbert, catching his breath, said, "I'm a bit shattered at the moment, but I'll recover."