An "inspirational" Bexleyheath woman celebrated her 80th birthday in impressive fashion - by inviting her friends to go on a six mile run with her.
"Amazing" Eileen Noble, of Preston Drive, only took up running when she was 53, and joined Bexley Athletic Club when she was 70.
She has competed in numerous meets for the club, and run an impressive 16 London Marathons - finishing second in her age category on two occasions - as well as other marathons in the UK and abroad, raising money for charities including MacMillan Cancer Support.
On December 30, to mark turning 80, she and 15 friends met at her home to embark on a breakfast run in Danson Park, followed by a delicious cooked meal.
Her running partner Sylvia Jennings, 71, who is often by her side when she is training and competing, said: "Because it was her 80th she thought she'd like to mark it by doing a breakfast run.
"She'd been planning it for a while.
"There were around 15 of us. People at the club are so awe-inspired by her - they are really supportive in every way. It's amazing to have someone running when they're 80.
"From her point of view and from my point of view it is also great to have people at the club who do not judge you on your age.
"Running is something we are all interested in, we all love doing it, so they don't look at us and say 'oh, you're old', they look at us and say 'oh, you run'."
Bexley Athletic Club recently presented Eileen with an award for her dedication and commitment: even when she was diagnosed with mouth cancer six years ago - from which she has made a full recovery - Eileen kept training.
She also helps the club wherever she can, from marshalling duties to competing in events she would otherwise not - including discus.
Club coach Roger Smith, 61, said: "You don't expect people of her age to be running. She's a real inspiration, not only the younger members of the club but to any runner. She's amazing.
"It just shows even at that age you can still cut it with everyone else.
"When you look at her and her friend Sylvia, it spurs you on that they're still competing at their age."
Her daughter Imelda, 41, added: "She's got no intention to stop. She always says, at her age, if she ever had a break she would never be able to get back into it.
"She planning to do the London Marathon this year as well."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here