Just four weeks after undergoing heart surgery, 97-year-old Grace Chambers lined up once again at the start of her local Parkrun in Belfast, and finished her 250th event in 51 minutes, becoming the oldest person in Europe to reach the milestone.
The retired teacher and Ormeau Park fixture has been a regular at the weekly 5K since 2016, when she took up running at the age of 88. “Everyone kept saying: ‘This woman in her 80s has turned up thinking she can do a Parkrun,’” she recalled, laughing. “Well I certainly showed them.”
Since then, Grace has not only become a beloved local legend, but also an unlikely record-setter. According to her runbritain rankings profile, she clocked a 47:55 earlier this year, fast enough to rival runners many decades her junior.
But it’s her consistency, good humor, and resilience, not just her stopwatch, that’s made her a symbol of what community running is all about.
“I feel glad I’ve done it as there was always a possibility that I wouldn’t,” she told the BBC after Saturday’s run. “But I never look negatively at things, if I set a goal I try to achieve it and if I don’t do it the first time I try it again and again and again.”
Grace’s journey into running began on the advice of a staff member on her rehab team, someone who happened to volunteer at Parkrun. Encouraged by one of her daughters, she gave it a go and has barely looked back, even after injuries and major health setbacks.
During the pandemic, she kept logging solo 5Ks and sending in her times, despite the official event being suspended. “I just went down and did it myself anyway,” she said.
“I’ve probably done a lot more than 250 Parkruns, but the ones during Covid don’t count,” she added.
When a broken leg sidelined her briefly during lockdown, she was back as soon as she recovered.
Most recently, Grace underwent keyhole valve replacement surgery at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital. “I told the surgeon I was going to test out his work, I’ve got a new valve, why would I not use it,” she said.
Dr. Jonny Mailey, the cardiologist who performed the procedure, came along to cheer her across the finish line. “She’s fantastic and what she has achieved is unbelievable,” he said. “It really is testament to her as a person.”
Though she now completes the course with help from her close friends Cathy and Sue, Grace still has a sharp sense of humor. When double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes joined her for a Parkrun, Grace said, “Kelly wanted to talk as we were going round the course so I had to say, come on Kelly, you’re holding me back.”
A plaque on a bench at the Ormeau Park finish line reads, “Grace’s Bench – Parkrunner extraordinaire.” Most Saturdays, you’ll find her there smiling, chatting, and posing for photos.
Volunteer run director Deirdre McConvey said Grace has “become a local legend.” “We’ve had visitors come specially to meet her, nobody smiles broader than Grace.
Her warmth and friendliness has endeared her to all the regulars who love to cheer her over the finish line, especially on her birthday. Her grit and determination are definitely inspiring and sometimes quite humbling.”
Belfast South MP Claire Hanna, who is also a regular Parkrunner, said, “Congratulations to the inimitable Grace. What an inspiration she is to so many.”
But for Grace, the fuss is a bit baffling.
“So what!” she said. “Many people do much more remarkable things than this, but if it inspires some people to start running, then that’s great. I just hope I get a good time on Saturday with everyone watching me.”
