A 77-year-old Christchurch runner, who has clocked up 290,000 kilometres since he first laced up his running shoes, has added six more Master Games medals to his already impressive tally.
At the competition held in Whanganui, John Mulvaney came first place in the 75 to 79 Men’s Mile and 800m, second placed in the 200m, 3000m, and third place in the 100m and 60m.
He told 1News last week: “I’ve been running for so long I take it all in my stride. I feel like a 50 year old.”
“Run fresh, and look out, go Johnny boy.”
Mulvaney showed 1News his impressive haul of 210 medals, including some from the 12km City2Surf fun run event held in Christchurch, which he hasn’t missed since 1975.
Now, when he runs the City2Surf he said he does it for fun, or to talk to people along the way.
“I’ve been called a legend, and all different names but a friend of mine in the club now calls me speedy,” he laughs.
Mulvaney said the memory of carrying the Olympic Torch in Christchurch 2000 was very special to him.
“You get hundreds of people coming out of their homes and to see you, to practically want to touch you.”
Not only does Mulvaney keep log books documenting every single run he’s ever done — he also keeps 30 pairs on running shoes on rotation as he trains to get these results.
“I had to laugh at my daughter when she said ‘I’m not coming out with you, you won’t wait for me’. I thought that was quite sweet.”
On March 16 he’ll be running his 50th City2Surf event, and has been getting up to run at 6am to make sure he puts his best foot forward.
“Today runners have a tendency to take what I call a shortcut. [It’s] very important to do a base, a mileage base, the speed work comes after a mileage base.”
