An inspirational Teesside grandmother who started running aged 63 is now winning gold medals representing Great Britain at the age of 76.
Former primary school teacher, Carolyn Gale, had no idea when she agreed to support her young grandson doing the Park Run at Stewart Park it would lead to a sensational running career – completing no fewer than eight marathons and as well as winning gold representing Great Britain.
Mum-of-three, Carolyn, now 76, has just won the British Masters W75 2026 10k Road Running Championship in Chichester, repeating her win at Newcastle last year.
Carolyn regularly represents Great Britain at World and European levels and also England at International level. She has two World Championship Team Gold medals, three European Gold medals and several Silver and Bronze medals. And, has again qualified to represent Great Britain at events in 2027.
Carolyn Gale gets help from granddaughters Willow, left, and Poppy, to show off her medals(Image: UGC)
After scooping the latest clutch of medals in the European Masters Championship in Madeira last year, in cross country, 10k and half marathon, Carolyn managed to squeeze in another half marathon with her son, Peter, and grandson, Dave.
It was because of Dave, who was 12 at the time, that Carolyn found her passion for running. She said: “Peter used to take Dave to the Park Run. But, one Saturday morning he couldn’t go and all eyes fell to me. I went to look around the route and said ok I know where I’m going and then they said ‘you do that twice’ you could have heard me squeal a mile away.”
But, after the first run Carolyn realised she enjoyed it and carried on, after a number of weeks she won a prize of some running shoes for all her improvement and her passion for running snowballed from there.
Carolyn (left of team GB) and her team mates with their gold medals(Image: UGC)
The grandmother-of-five joined running group, Swift Tees and then on to join North York Moors Athletic Club and has had huge support for members at both groups.
Carolyn, who lives in Middlesbrough, says she had become very unfit over the years, but when her husband David, 79, had a heart bypass in his early 50s, they both started going to the gym. She added: “I never liked running though.”
Carolyn with grandson Dave, left, and son Peter after the trio completed a 10k in Malaga(Image: UGC)
But, all that had changed and running is a way of life for Carolyn. She said: “I absolutely love it. A friend of mine said it makes her feel alive and that’s exactly how I feel. There are days when I don’t want to go out, but I always feel so much better when I get back.”
She said it has also opened up an amazing social life for her as well, with running friends of all ages. She said: “A lot of activities you just meet up with people your own age, but with running you have friends of all ages with a lot in common.”
She said she often picks runs and races in places they might not have been before and she and David, who is hoping to complete his 250th Park Run around the time of his 80th birthday in July, will make a little holiday of the trip away.
Carolyn said the Park Run at Stewart Park where her running life began, is still very close to her heart.
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