I'm 93 and I've run 52 marathons since the age of 53 - I've had to slow dow, but I'm still in the gym six days a week

A 93-year-old man who has run 52 marathons revealed he was told to stop by his doctor but he still goes to the gym six days a week.

John Starbrook, from Staines, Surrey, who has been dubbed 'The Legend' by friends, joined Cat Deeley and Ben Sheppard on This Morning to discuss his passion for staying fit on Thursday. 

John revealed he took up running at 53 after his wife joked that he could never do a marathon because he 'doesn't even like walking'.  

'When I was 53 I did my first marathon, I saw them all running the London Marathon, so I told my wife I'm going to do that, and she just laughed, she said ''you don’t even like walking'', so it became a challenge.'

However he didn't catch the running bug straight away and after his first marathon he thought he wouldn't do another.

John Starbrook, 93, from Staines, Surrey, who has run 52 marathons reveals he was told to stop by his doctor but he still goes to the gym six days a week

He said: 'After the first I thought, I'm not doing that again it's too hard. I had done a bit [of training] but not enough. I didn't want to over train.'

John said the New York marathon, which he done seven times, is his favourite and the Boudreaux run, which he done twice, was also a highlight. 

He added: 'On the second day there is a fun run which is just six miles and there is only wine on offer, we don't need the water.' 

In the North Wales marathon he logging a personal best of 4 hours, 14 minutes and last completed a 26.2-mile race in 2019 when he was 88. 

He was the oldest finisher of the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon, at 87, placing first in his age group with a time of 8 hours, 21 minutes, and 44 seconds. 

After his 10th marathon Johns doctor advised him to give up the running when he developed arthritis in his knees.

He said: 'I didn't take any notice, I was already entered into the next marathon, so I didn't stop at all.' 

The father of three, who retired 28 years ago, still does a spin class every morning six days a week and then in the evening he lifts weights in the gym.

He was the oldest finisher of the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon, at 87, placing first in his age group with a time of 8 hours, 21 minutes, and 44 seconds

John who has been dubbed 'The Legend', joined Cat Deeley and Ben Sheppard on This Morning to discuss his passion for staying fit on Thursday 

After his 10th marathon Johns doctor advised him to give up the running when he developed arthritis in his knees

Asked why he trains so much he joked: ‘Well, it’s either that or sit at and talk to the wife.'

When asked if he has any advice for older people who want to exercise, John quipped: 'Don’t do it, it’s too painful, you have to got to really want to do it and don’t over do it.'

However he did acknowledge that he wouldn't take that advice himself because he has never been 'sensible.' 

John serves as an ambassador for Age UK, raising tens of thousands of pounds for the charity and inspiring people over 50 to get active.

Speaking to The Telegraph in 2023, John said: 'A lot of people seem to think that when they hit 50, they’re ‘old, I hear that, and I don’t know what they’re talking about.

'A lot of it is in the mind. I’ve had people say they couldn’t possibly do this or that because they’re too old, but they’re younger than my son.

'When I tell people about what I’ve done they’ve gone on to take up jogging and even do marathons afterwards.'