Nigel Gates

I am very motivated to continue to be successful relative to my age, but also to keep enjoying my training and racing. If I can do that I’ll keep going - but I have to say family life comes first these days. I still love the feeling of running every day, but it wasn’t much fun struggling to run with injury for the first couple of years of my 50’s.  I am doing off road racing at the moment but will focus on my times again as a M55 in 2008.

I counted up that I have won 11 World age group titles over track, indoor track, road, cross country and mountain running, plus a few European championships. Too lengthy to list them all but I am proud to hold the World age 3000 records for 45 and 50 indoors.

I started training at 17 but have only had one serious injury at 48. I hurt my Achilles during the foot and mouth outbreak due to road running in bad shoes. This is why I need to wear really good footwear (Brooks of course!) to look after my legs.

I have had too many great experiences to pick out just one – the same goes for the worst race. I was really pleased to break the world M50 as it showed I could get over the injuries