Sassy 86-year-old takes on Kaapsehoop marathon
Uniwisp is proud to host world-record holder of the 2017 Geneva Marathon, Deidre Larkin of Randburg Harriers Marathon Club at the annual Uniwisp Kaapsehoop 3-in-1 marathon.
It is organised by Nelspruit Marathon Club.
She only joined the club in 2010 at the age of 78 years. This is not surprising, because this amazing athlete only began her running career in 2009.
Her running achievements have reached stellar levels in 2013. She was selected to represent Central Gauteng Athletics in the South African 10-kilometre Championships in Durban in May 2013. She completed the course in a time of 54:17, breaking the South African 10-kilometre record for women over 70 years, and smashing the world distance record for women over 80 years. She took over two-and-a-half minutes off the existing record, held by Melitta Czerwenka of Germany, who ran 56:53 in 2011.
Larkin is an inspirational runner, who also broke the 85+ world half-marathon and 10-kilometre records.
She is an 86-year-old retired concert pianist who can complete a half marathon in just over two hours and the 10-kilometres in 56 minutes.
She may have only taken up running late in life, but Larkin has certainly made her mark on the South African running scene, setting several world records or bests, regularly finishing on the podium at races, and inspiring many a younger runner with her attitude.
At 86 she shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.
