LEGENDARY South Yorkshire marathon runner Doug Rufus has died at the age of 96 – eight years after completing his last race.
Veteran Doug, from Rotherham, didn't take up running until he was 65 – and went on to complete 48 marathons by the time he hung up his trainers.
In 1988 the 76-year old, of Bank Top Road, Brecks, finished the London Marathon 20 minutes ahead of hi
s 39-year old son Ian.
A decade later 86-year-old Doug became the oldest competitor in the London Marathon, raising money for Rotherham Hospice Appeal. At the time he was doing 40 or 50 miles a week training.
Doug's final marathon ended before it began, aged 89, when he was forced to pull out of the London Marathon after he tore a leg muscle during a training session.
Harriers chairman Jim Brogan said: "Doug was a fantastic example to others and to leave us having been such an inspiration to so many is a great way to go.
"It's very rare that you get someone of Doug's age with such enthusiasm for running.
"He must have given his doctor a few scares over the years. I know he wanted to keep running marathons into his 90s."
Son Ian said: "My dad had a fantastic innings and lived an extremely full life."
Doug served in the RAF during World War Two and was billeted in Rotherham where he met his wife Joyce. After the war he became an accountant, retiring in 1977 from his job with Doncaster Newspapers.
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