Macclesfield octogenarian will be the oldest runner at this year's London Marathon
By Matthew Hancock-Bruce 13th Apr 2026
A Maxonian will be the oldest runner at this year's London Marathon.
Macclesfield Harriers club legend Harry Newtown will be the oldest person taking part in the 2026 TCS London Marathon at the age of 88.
It will be the 22nd time he has completed the iconic running race, his first time being in 1995, age 57.
He's completed 31 marathons in total, including one made up of laps in his garden during the Covid lockdown.
Asked what he's looking forward to most, Harry said: "The support from the crowds and the amazing atmosphere – people you don't know at all just shouting your name.
"My favourite part of the course is Tower Bridge, nearly half-way!"
Sharing his advice for first timers, Harry added: "Be patient with yourself and don't do anything silly in the last few weeks before the marathon."
Harry started training with Macclesfield Harriers after being nominated to carry the baton for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
The following year he ran the London Marathon in a time of four hours and five minutes.
Motivated to push on, he ran a sub-four hour marathon at Lake Vrynwy in Wales, securing a Good for Age place for London, which he managed to hold onto for the next two decades.
His personal best at London is three hours, 52 minutes and 30 seconds – set when he was 70 years old.
Having lost his Good for Age place at London in recent years, Harry decided to go to Morecambe last September and reclaimed his spot, completing the marathon in just under six hours.
Asked the secret to his success, he said: "Pacing right, not going off too fast and learning how to run slowly.
"Training is pretty much going according to plan – maybe a bit slower than usual."
Harry will be well supported on the streets of the capital, with 18 members of his family heading down south to cheer him on.
In completing the marathon, he will be raising money for the British Heart Foundation.
"Coronary heart disease remains the single biggest killer worldwide," Harry said.
"I want to support the British Heart Foundation in their research and in the work they do to help people."
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