Parkrun report damaged by 97-year-old Belfast runner

pacemaker Grace Chambers, 97, has turn into Europe’s oldest parkrunner to achieve the 250 run milestone Grace Chambers, aged 97, has turn into Europe’s oldest..

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August 16, 2025

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Parkrun report damaged by 97-year-old Belfast runner

Grace Chambers, 97, has turn into Europe’s oldest parkrunner to achieve the 250 run milestone

pacemaker Grace sitting on a black bench looking at the camera. She has white hair and is wearing a dark pink jacket. — Grace Chambers, 97, has turn into Europe’s oldest parkrunner to achieve the 250 run milestone

Grace Chambers, aged 97, has turn into Europe’s oldest Parkrunner to achieve the 250 run milestone.

She has simply accomplished the 5k run at Ormeau Park in south Belfast.

Grace had coronary heart surgical procedure 4 weeks in the past however that did not cease her collaborating within the run on Saturday.

On finishing the run Grace stated she was “over the moon” to have completed.

“I really feel glad I’ve accomplished it as there was at all times a risk that I would not however I by no means look negatively at issues, if I set a objective I attempt to obtain it and if I do not do it the primary time I strive it repeatedly and once more,” she stated.

Grace was on the beginning line along with her daughter Shireen and good friend Cathy

Grace wearing a blue running top. She has white hair. To her right is a woman with blonde hair, she has a black running top. To her left is a woman wearing a grey running top, she has blonde hair. They are all holding hands. — Grace was on the beginning line along with her daughter Shireen and good friend Cathy

For many individuals, by no means thoughts an 88-year-old recovering from critical, invasive surgical procedure, working is just not prime of the to-do listing.

However Grace’s Parkrun journey started when a workers member on her rehabilitation crew, who volunteered at Ormeau Parkrun, instructed she may take pleasure in coming alongside.

With a little bit of encouragement from one among her daughters, Grace went to do her first Parkrun in 2016 and stated she grew to become the discuss of the occasion.

“Everybody saved saying: ‘This girl in her 80s has turned up pondering she will do a parkrun.’ Properly I actually confirmed them,” she stated, laughing.

Grace and her good friend Sue sitting on ‘Grace’s Bench’ which marks the end line at Ormeau Parkrun

Ormeau Parkrun Grace Chambers wearing a pink parkrun t-shirt. She is looking at the camera, She is sitting on a black park bench, there is a small plaque on the bench which says Grace's bench - Park Runner extraordinaire. She is sitting with another woman in a peach colour running top and black glasses — Grace and her good friend Sue sitting on ‘Grace’s Bench’ which marks the end line at Ormeau Parkrun

Grace grew to become a daily on the neighborhood occasion and broke quite a few data for runners in her age class in her first 12 months.

“I simply find it irresistible, all of the individuals you meet, it is simply great – individuals from throughout Northern Eire come and blend at Parkrun and also you would not have had individuals from all of the communities mixing like that after I was rising up,” she stated.

The previous instructor, who professed a love of mountain mountain climbing and golf, stated not even the suspension of Parkruns in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic slowed her down.

“I simply went down and did it myself anyway,” she stated.

Grace recorded all of her occasions and acquired her daughter to ship all of them to Parkrun afterwards.

Grace stated it is the chums she made at Parkrun, like Cathy, who maintain her going

Ormeau Parkrun Grace and Cathy are sitting on a park bench and both women are laughing. Grace is wearing a pink parkrun t-shrt and is pointing the camera. Cathy is wearing a purple t-shirt and has long hair — Grace stated it is the chums she made at Parkrun, like Cathy, who maintain her going

“I’ve most likely accomplished much more than 250 Parkruns, however the ones throughout Covid do not rely,” she added.

Not even a damaged leg, suffered whereas out strolling throughout the pandemic, stopped her, as she bounced straight again to Parkruns after recovering.

She’s now assisted across the course by her two buddies Cathy and Sue.

“I would not be right here with out them, they take me to the run every week and go spherical with me.”

A ‘native legend’ cheered on by Olympians

Grace stated Dame Kelly Holmes needed to speak however she needed to inform her to rush up so they might get an excellent time

Ormeau Parkrun Grace is wearing a pink fleece, she is sitting with Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes, Kelly is wearing a blue fleece with a yellow high-vis jacket. They are both looking at the camera and smiling — Grace stated Dame Kelly Holmes needed to speak however she needed to inform her to rush up so they might get an excellent time

Grace now has a bench named after her on the end line with a a plaque that claims “Grace’s Bench, Park runner extraordinaire”.

On a typical week, you will discover Grace sitting on it after the run posing for photographs along with her followers.

Numerous individuals have come to go to Grace over time together with the Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes, who ran alongside her.

“Kelly needed to speak as we have been going around the course so I needed to say, come on Kelly, you are holding me again.”

Grace’s preparations for her 250th run hit a snag when she had a coronary heart surgical procedure 4 weeks in the past, however she solely missed one week throughout her restoration.

Dr Jonny Mailey, who carried out keyhole coronary heart surgical procedure on Grace 4 weeks in the past celebrated with Grace on the end line

Grace is sitting on a bench wearing a light blue vest, she is sitting beside Dr Jonny Mailey who is wearing a dark blue t-shirt — Dr Jonny Mailey, who carried out keyhole coronary heart surgical procedure on Grace 4 weeks in the past celebrated with Grace on the end line

Grace’s preparations for her 250th run hit a snag when she had a coronary heart surgical procedure 4 weeks in the past, however she solely missed one week throughout her restoration.

“I informed the surgeon I used to be going to check out his work, I’ve acquired a brand new valve, why would I not use it,” she stated.

Dr Jonny Mailey, from the cardiology unit at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, carried out the keyhole valve substitute on Grace in July and got here alongside to assist her run.

“She’s incredible and what she has achieved is unbelievable,” he stated.

“It truly is testomony to her as an individual.”

Deirdre McConvey, one of many volunteer run administrators at Ormeau Parkrun, stated Grace has “turn into an area legend”.