{"id":548241,"date":"2026-03-27T10:12:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T10:12:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/548241\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T10:12:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T10:12:28","slug":"im-britains-oldest-female-ironman-triathlete-these-are-my-5-non-negotiable-fitness-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/548241\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I\u2019m Britain\u2019s oldest female Ironman triathlete \u2013 these are my 5 non-negotiable fitness rules\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite not getting into running until she was in her 50s and being 60 when she learnt how to swim, Eddie Brocklesby became the oldest British woman to complete an Ironman aged 72. Known to many as \u2018Iron Gran<\/a>\u2019, Eddie later repeated the feat when she was 74 \u2013 and now in her early 80s, fitness remains a huge part of her life.<\/p>\n

It all started with a half marathon<\/a>, which she entered partly to prove to her husband that she could indeed run that distance. But before long, Eddie was completing marathons<\/a>, triathlons and Ironmans \u2013 and in 2013, following the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, she founded Silverfit<\/a>, a charity promoting healthy ageing through affordable physical activity. It currently provides 32 weekly sessions across eight London boroughs. <\/p>\n

Eddie says that her husband \u2013 a football player \u2013 had always been \u2018much fitter\u2019 than her and when he played matches at the University of Nottingham where they met, she was firmly a spectator. So when he died, it motivated Eddie to keep going with her own fitness endeavours. <\/p>\n

\u2018We had a couple of months when we knew that he was terminally ill \u2013 and we recognised that I was the lucky one and to make the most of your life,\u2019 she tells Women\u2019s Health. \u2018That, to me, was the incentive to keep going.\u2019 So committed is Eddie to staying strong and active \u2013 and helping others to do the same \u2013 that she\u2019ll be immortalised in paint in the new series of Extraordinary Portraits<\/a>, triathlon kit and all.
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Eddie is currently recovering from a fall, so she\u2019s easing back into things (although she does have her sights set on an upcoming 10K race) \u2013 but several doctors have said that she would \u2018be in a far worse state\u2019 had it not been for her high fitness level. Below, she shares the top training tips that help her stay strong, active and able to recover well.<\/p>\n

\"ironInstagram \/ _irongran_<\/p>\n

Eddie pictured with friend and parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt<\/p>\n

1. Be adaptable <\/p>\n

Eddie would love to get straight back out there and would typically run, jog, walk<\/a> and cycle<\/a> regularly across the week. However, over the years, she\u2019s learnt to be in tune with her body and knows when to scale it back. \u2018The last thing that I want is another fall at the moment,\u2019 she says \u2013 but at the same time, she adds, exercise is important for recovery, \u2018albeit with a crutch\u2019.<\/p>\n

So, alongside walking, Eddie has swapped her outdoor bike for Zwift \u2013 a global virtual cycling app \u2013 for the time being. It\u2019s safe, still a great workout and helps to keep her motivated thanks to the competitive element and workout variety. \u2018I’m probably on Zwift most days \u2013 it\u2019s a bit more limited at the moment, but I did half an hour yesterday and the day before,\u2019 she says. \u2018It\u2019s a brilliant system.\u2019<\/p>\n

2. Don\u2019t underestimate the power of walking<\/p>\n

As she\u2019s gotten older, Eddie has incorporated a lot of walking<\/a> into her weekly routine, the power of which she says shouldn\u2019t be underestimated \u2013 especially when done in a group. She doesn\u2019t have an ACL in either knee \u2013 \u2018the first one went as a result of skiing and the second I think just from jogging\u2019 \u2013 so walking helps Eddie to maintain fitness with less impact than she would experience solely running. <\/p>\n

3. Prioritise strength training <\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s absolutely vital, the strength training element of healthier ageing \u2013 for balance and reducing falls,\u2019 says Eddie, who adds that she aims to perform strengthening exercises<\/a> daily. \u2018If people have got stronger quads and hamstrings, then they are less likely to fall over.\u2019<\/p>\n

While Eddie does frequent the gym for swimming<\/a> and strength work<\/a>, she highlights the benefits of at-home bodyweight strength training, too, such as press-ups and leg lifts, which you can do from a chair. \u2018It\u2019s so simple, but so important to do every day if you can,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n

4. Reap the social benefits of exercise<\/p>\n

Eddie is part of London-based Serpentine Running and Triathlon Club, with whom she trains often. Over the years, the fitness communities that she has been part of \u2013 including Hackney Marshes parkrun, which she set up \u2013 have been vital motivators. \u2018I think that there\u2019s a hugely important social element [of exercise],\u2019 she says, citing the benefits of simply getting out in the fresh air and going for a walk with others.<\/p>\n

\"ironInstagram \/ _irongran_<\/p>\n

Serpentine Running and Triathlon Club has been integral to Eddie\u2019s fitness journey<\/p>\n

From data that the Silverfit team has collected, one thing is evident, says Eddie: \u2018You ask what keeps [them coming back] and people will answer it\u2019s the social element.\u2019<\/p>\n

5. Start gradually and build up<\/p>\n

As Eddie has learnt first-hand, one of the key things to staying active is to start gradually before building up \u2013 she didn\u2019t dive straight into an Ironman! \u2013 like she\u2019s currently doing again post-fall. \u2018It\u2019s far better to go in at a slower pace and build up rather than go and think, oh, God, no, this isn\u2019t for me,\u2019 she says. \u2018It\u2019s about taking it slowly and gently to start with and not overdoing it.\u2019<\/p>\n

And for anyone who thinks that it\u2019s \u2018too late\u2019 for fitness? \u2018There are so many different ways of getting out and exercising,\u2019 says Eddie \u2013 whether you choose to join a gym or not. From Nordic walking<\/a> to dance, there\u2019s something out there for everyone. <\/p>\n

Extraordinary Portraits<\/a> with Bill Bailey returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Friday 27 March \u2013 you can catch Eddie\u2019s episode on Friday 3 April. <\/p>\n

This article first appeared in Women\u2019s Health UK.
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