“I do a lot of the hill work, so when I come off the hills, I’m ready to fly. I’m small, but I’m very strong, and I get my power off the hills and doing 1kms. You don’t come training with me because I don’t wait for you!”
The 78-year-old has entered the fun run every year since it started in 1975 – bar 2011 when it was cancelled following the February earthquake and 2020 when it wasn’t held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He will be one of more than 10,000 runners taking part in this year’s CORDE City2Surf.
John will run the full 12km course and aims to keep a good pace, after clocking 1hr 34min last year.
“I’m definitely looking forward to it. Because it’s so relaxing on the day, there’s no pressure.”
John said his favourite aspect of the City2Surf is the benefit it has for himself and others.
“It’s doing good for my health and body, by inspiring people. Over the years there’s been a lot of joy in the fun runs and the City2Surf, and the fact that I’m out there doing it.”
John pounds the pavement for hours on end nearly every day.
He has run more than 180,000 miles (nearly 290,000km) since he started to keep logbooks in 1972.
Most cars would start to fail at that mileage, but John is as strong as ever.
He will compete at the New Zealand Masters Games in Whanganui from January 31.
John plans to run in as many races as possible at the games from the 60m to the 3000m.
“I’ve always been a competitive-natured person,” he said.
“Why should I (stop)? I intend to be the best in New Zealand and, all going well, there’s no reason I shouldn’t get there.”
While John never ran for New Zealand - but did represent Canterbury in track and cross-country - he has been involved in two of the world’s biggest competitions.
John was a marathon marshall at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch in 1974 and, in 2000, he carried the Olympic torch in Christchurch while it was en route to Sydney.
“It was an honour. I never thought I’d be doing that, you had hundreds of people coming out into the streets just to see you (and) wish you well.
“I roughly remember I ran in Burnside and then I handed on to a New Zealand rep basketball player, but even being in the bus with those guys, it was a buzz.”
John also ran the Sydney to Surf in 1975.
He was one of four runners from the St Martins Athletic and Harrier Club who took part.
He plans to keep doing the CORDE City2Surf for as long as he can.
“I think to myself that, because of my competitive nature, if I wasn’t able to run the next, I would definitely be walking. It’s just me.”
