AN 81-YEAR-old was among the competitors who completed the Kendal Mountain Festival trail run.

Jim Dean completed the 10k race in 1:23:49 - around nine minutes faster then his 2019 race finish.

Jim has been running since he was 42 after telling his friend that he would never do it.

He said: "My hobby was motorcycle trials - my friends then persuaded me to start running.

"As the years went on I did quite well on the road races, but then I got to the point where I was too slow on the roads so about 10-12 years ago I started running off road in these races."

Jim found running in hillside terrains a lot more enjoyable. Now he often takes part in the Lakeland trail races and the Mountain festival race.

Throughout his life, Jim has tried and succeeded in keeping a health and active lifestyle. He took part in the Windermere marathon in 1946 and completed 13 Great North runs.

Jim said his age is 'just a number'.

He said: "Don't get me wrong as you get older you get a lot slower and you're just working as hard as you were 20 years ago."

This year Jim has taken part in the Lakeland trail, being the only person over 80 to take part, and at this year's mountain festival race was also the only person in his age category.

He is hoping that next year more people in his age category will take part so he has someone to compete with.

On what training he did to prepare for the 10k race, Jim said: "I didn't prepare for it especially in as much as more of less everyday or every other day I go our for a run at the first thing in the morning."

On what advice he gives people who want to start running he said that he tells them to run up hills, Jim said: "Yes it might hurt but that is how you know it's working."