Bucks grandma to become oldest female to complete 109-mile bike …

A Buckinghamshire grandma is training to become the oldest female to complete a 109-mile bike race. She hopes that it will inspire other older people to get active and show “you can do anything, at any age”. Jo Lewis, 68, a triathlon coach for mature athletes, is training for the Dartmoor Classis which she estimates will take her seven to eight hours to complete.

Jo, who lives in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, with her partner, Ted Hamilton, 74, who worked for the RAF before retiring, has travelled the world coaching athletes in places including Australia, Canada and Spain and also competes for Great Britain in the 65-69 age category. Jo has two grown-up children, Graham, 39, and Anthony, 35, as well as four grandchildren, ages ranging from 10 months to eight years, and is keen to show the physical feats grandparents can achieve. She said: “A lot of people think you can’t take on physical feats the older you get, but I’m proof that that’s not true.

This upcoming event is certainly out of my comfort zone but that’s exactly why I’m determined to do it. I want to show people that you can do anything, at any age, if you put your mind to it and you’re willing to make it happen.” Jo has always been sporty, but did not start tackling competitive challenges until she was 40.

Jo started running in her 30s and completed her marathon at 40 (Image: PA Real Life)

She said: “I think I’ve always had that passion for the outdoor life, I’ve always loved nature and being out in the fresh air.

But it wasn’t until I did my first marathon at 40 that I started thinking about doing sports competitively.” Starting off her career as a secretary, Jo soon realised that she did not enjoy working in an office and, after having her first child, she set up a swimming school business. “I’d always been a keen swimmer and my little business, Ducklings to Dolphins, passed the time,” she said.

Jo with her partner Ted Hamilton, 74, who worked for the RAF before retiring (Image: Collect/ PA)

Getting into running in her 30s, Jo said it was her dad that urged her to find a different sport, after worrying that she would injure herself.

Instead, Jo started cycling which enabled her to participate in triathlons. Jo said: “My dad was a doctor, he worried and would often warn me about the negative impact long-distance running can have on your joints, particularly as you get older. So I decided to take up cycling more and, now trained in all three disciplines of a triathlon, I started competing in those events.”

Since then, Jo started her own business, Tri50, in 2010, coaching mature athletes for sporting events and now hopes to break a world record of her own. The 109-mile Dartmoor Classic, which will take place this July in Devon, will take Jo around seven to eight hours to finish.

Triathlon coach for mature athletes Jo Lewis, 68, from Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire (Image: Collect/ PA)

“My job as a coach has enabled me to travel to fantastic places I never thought I’d go, but I wanted to do the Dartmoor Classic as a personal challenge for myself. My mission for my clients is simple, helping people reach their next goal, however big or small that may be and now I’m challenging myself.” Jo said.

“I’ve completed the shorter route in the race previously but I’m way out of my comfort zone with this 109-mile route. It’s going to be very hilly and gruelling, but my children and hopefully some of the grandchildren are going to be cheering me on.” Jo hopes her bike challenge will inspire the older generation to get active.

Jo celebrating with Patrick Foster, Ted Hamilton (Image: Collect/ PA)

She said: “It’s all about mindset, if you can’t run, then we can get you jogging in the water to strengthen your legs or cycle short distances to get your body used to it.

I’m training most days in preparation for the sportive, but your goal doesn’t need to be so daunting, it’s all about improving your own fitness.” A survey by Insure4Sport found that around 85% of women and 77% of men in the UK aged 55 and over do not consider participating in sport of any kind. Jo hopes to break the stigma and encourage more mature people to take up sports.

She said: “People often develop a bit of a mental block surrounding exercise when they reach a certain age. When I first meet a new client, we’ll sit down together, so that I can get an understanding of what their main fears and worries are regarding exercise. Then, it’s more a case of reassuring them of the things they can do, rather than focusing too much on the things they cannot.

Jo started her own business, Tri50, in 2010, coaching mature athletes for sporting events (Image: Collect/ PA)

“I’ll give them ideas on how and where to start, without being overly ambitious, and outline a recommended pathway.

There is always something you can do, and I believe that swimming, in particular, is fantastic exercise, regardless of your age – it’s non-weight bearing, social, and ideal for rehabilitation and maintaining good mental health. “Every person I work with is different, so you have to demonstrate patience, empathy, and understanding, but I hope I can inspire more older people to get active. It’s not a short-term solution for older people to become more active, they have to make that lifestyle change with guidance and support from professionals.”

As well as training for this year’s Dartmoor Classic in July, Jo is also off to Belgium in August and Spain in September to compete in Aquabike competitions. Throughout the month of April, Jo is encouraging people of all ages and fitness levels to get involved in her Spring Skipping Challenge, which she is coordinating through social media. Jo added: “I love skipping.

It’s fantastic for resistance, flexibility, cardiovascular health, and leg strength.

I thought, ‘why not have a bit of fun, turn it into a bit of a challenge, and get more people involved.’ It’s not in my nature to keep still, I’ll always be looking for the next challenge.”