Judith Porter, who is 72 years old, has travelled all over the world since she started running in her mid-50s. What are some of her best moments? She ran the Manchester Half Marathon for England in her age group, the Thunder Dragon Half Marathon in Bhutan in the Himalayas, and the Tokyo Marathon after falling on her chin at mile 16. Judith tells Women’s Health that ‘crossing every finish line, no matter how fast or slow you have run, is a reason to celebrate’.
Judith says that before she turned 55, she didn’t do much to stay fit on purpose. She only started running to help a coworker who had been diagnosed with a rare type of arthritis. Judith didn’t think she would keep running after the Great North Run to raise money. But before long, she had joined a running club and was completely hooked. She has now finished all six World Marathon Majors and four of the six SuperHalfs (all of which she ran for charity through the global charity running network realbuzz). She is also a dedicated parkrunner and has even walked the Inca Trail.
Judith still has a strong desire to win: “I try to go as fast as I can so that I can be the first lady over 70.” She also stresses how important it is to keep running, which calls for a mindful, holistic approach to training. So, what does that mean? Here are her best tips for setting up a running schedule that is realistic and can last.
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Judith is starting 2026 off right by running the First Light Half Marathon in New Zealand.
She has made steady progress.
Judith says that she has always been and still is aware of her body and its limits. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t work hard, but it does mean she believes in making progress in a realistic way and keeping her schedule balanced. “When I first started at 55, I could only run 100 yards before I had to stop. It took me a whole month on a running machine to get to the point where I could run one mile at a steady pace,” she says. “People always say, ‘Whoa, I couldn’t run,’ and I say, ‘Well, you just have to do it in very small steps.'”
She suggests buying some cheap running shoes and starting with run-walks, like Couch to 5k or walking and running at the same time as you pass lamp posts. Judith says, “You have to learn how to breathe, and that’s not easy.” “That’s why I think the first three miles of a marathon are the hardest. You have to get your breathing into a good rhythm.”
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She makes the most of her low mileage.
Judith also says that when it comes to building gradually, it’s often about making the most of what you have. She doesn’t run more than 16 miles a week right now—”I have to be happy with doing the best training I can for the least amount of mileage and just staying generally fit”—but her balanced training means she could still run a half marathon. Judith says, “If I tried to run 30 miles a week, it would just be a waste of time. I’d just hurt myself.”
She puts variety first
What does her training look like? Judith says it’s mixed. She does speed work with friends or at her local running club, along with longer runs and hill workouts. She also says that training with younger runners keeps her interested and motivated.
She trains in other ways.
Judith says that getting the most out of minimal mileage also means staying fit in other ways. Judith says she could do more strength training, but she likes rebounding (jumping on a mini trampoline) and social circuit training because they don’t hurt her hips as much. Two of her best results have come when she was doing a lot of strength and conditioning work.
Judith says, “Sometimes a neighbour comes over and we work out together for an hour. For example, she might be doing squats with weights while I jog on the trampoline.” “Then we switch and do a new set of exercises.” We’ll do that three times. It’s a lot of fun when you have someone else to do it with.
So, what’s next for Judith as she runs? Right now, the goal is to finish the SuperHalfs, with only Berlin and Prague left to do. What about another marathon? Not right now, but Judith says she would “never say never” now that Sydney is on the World Majors list.
