THE running phenomenon that is Oggie Winters just can't stop smiling. But the Portstewart gardener, who celebrated his 60th birthday in May, has every reason to feel pleased with himself, having completed the seemingly impossible task of running 300 marathons in 300 weeks.
In fact, he finished the challenge seven months ahead of schedule, breaking through his final finishing line in 270 weeks, to be precise, and heading off for a well-earned treat – he treats himself to a '99' ice-cream cone with chocolate flake after each 26.2 mile run.
"It is a known thing, that if you keep smiling through the pain, it helps keep you going through the tough bits," he tells me. "So, when it gets tough, I keep smiling. It has something to do with the chemicals in your brain and it works."
Having begun his odyssey five years ago in Belfast, Oggie has since travelled the world, running in all the 'Marathon Majors', in London, Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin and Tokyo, and taking part in the UK 'Hell of the Hill' (five marathons in five days) endurance event in 2014 – some of which he completed on crutches.
At that point, he was recovering from general 'wear and tear' injuries to an ankle, but was determined to keep on target and finish within the eight-hour threshold.
"I had to walk a few of them on walking poles or crutches, but I wanted to do that rather than just give up," he says. "I am quite a determined person and don't like letting myself down or anyone else, for that matter."
Take it as read, then, that Oggie Winters – 'real' name, Eugene – is not a quitter. During a half-marathon in Omagh in his early training days, he suffered a perforated ulcer "out of the blue" and was rushed to hospital.
It still annoys him that he never got to finish that event, but it didn't prevent him lacing up his trainers and taking to the roads again. Following surgery he began, tentatively at first, running "a mile, here, two miles, there" and before he knew it, he was back at full pelt.
In 2012 Oggie (the name is a sobriquet from school days) completed 12 marathons. Then, in 2014, the annual total leapt to 85, falling back to 61 in 2015 before it crescendoed to 95 last year.
"So far, this year, I have done 49, but I'm not finished yet," he says. "I may have completed my initial goal, but I intend to keep running and raise money for different charities.
"I gave £1,000 to Action Mental Health (AMH) from the money raised from the '300' challenge, but I have also supported the Northern Ireland Hospice, Cancer Research, MS Society, Autism NI and a charity that rescues donkeys.
"I wanted to support AMH this time because I have met many runners who suffer from mental health issues and I have suffered from anxiety in the past. I think it is just as important for a runner to look after their mental health as their physical wellbeing – after all, completing a marathon is as much about mental endurance as anything else."
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the remarkable Mr Winters is that he only took up running at the age of 54 in a bid to lose weight – he has lost four stone since the outset of his five-year quest.
"I makes me smile to think what my old PE master would think of me now," he ponders. "I used to skulk around the corridors during PE lessons and in my younger days I was a bit wild. I changed my ways, though, and I haven't had a cigarette or alcoholic drink for 25 years.
He lives in an apartment overlooking the sea in Portstewart with his lifelong partner, Brian (93) who, up until a few years ago, was well enough to accompany him on his travels around the world and cheer him on from the sidelines.
"I love meeting people at the marathons, all of which are different," Oggie adds. "I can't say that after running so many, I now know what to expect; each time I approach the starting line: I make a point of refocusing and treating it like it's the first one.
"I would say running is good for body, mind and soul – any sort of exercise is good for mental health and I applaud people who are out even doing a park run – everyone has their own level and their own expectations. I think I just go a bit carried away with mine. I started running and couldn't stop."
A member of several elite marathon clubs around the world, including the Marathon Globetrotters, Marathon Club Ireland, the 100 Marathon Club UK, and the Super Marathon Club, Italy, Oggie's best time was struck at a local event – he completed the recent Newry marathon in three hours, 37 minutes, enabling him to qualify for next year’s London Marathon in the ‘Good for Age’ Category.
Now, he hopes his running success will be recongised by the Guinness Book of Records and will inspire others to get active, whatever their age or former lifestyle.
"It's hard on the hips and the knees, but the feeling, when you burst through that finishing line, is amazing," he enthuses. "It is like no other feeling in the world and I am so grateful I have had the good health to experience it."
