Meet 101-yr old beer-loving marathon runner
Published on Thu, Mar 13, 2008 at 15:08, Updated at Thu, Mar 13, 2008 in Lifestyle section
Tags: Buster Martin, London Marathon , London

NOT QUITE OLD SCHOOL: Buster Martin will be the oldest marathon runner ever if he finishes.
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London: In the reception area at Pimlico Plumbers, news clips about him play on a loop. ‘Buster’ Martin is 101 years old and is believed to be Britain's oldest employee.
He washes vans at Pimlico three to four days a week.
“They try to keep you down, but I'm afraid I'm not one of them that likes to be kept down. Before coming in I've already done an hour's run,” Buster says.
You heard right, before coming in, he's already done an hour's run. In fact, Buster's signed up to run the London Marathon next month. If he finishes, he'll be the oldest person to compete in a marathon ever. Helping him with his preparations will be a personal trainer, courtesy Pimlico Plumbers.
After a brief warm-up, Buster takes his first break. Not for water, but 'Buster's bitter'.
CNN: So tell me about this beer?
Buster: The brewery…they made it specially for me.
CNN: I hear you have 17 children?
Buster: Yeah, so that wasn't unusual in my day.
All with his one and only wife who passed some years ago. He says he's never found another woman as good. But he has found a bit of international fame. He's so popular that Pimlico Plumbers have assigned him a permanent plumber-turned-minder.
“I tend to take him to the TV studios and stuff like that,” Buster’s minder Jim Foot says.
Foot has his money on buster finishing all 26-and-a-half miles.
“Buster did a half-marathon in five hours and he didn't seem to struggle with that too much. So I'm sure as the beers keep coming he'll be ok,” Foot says.
“I thought well, actually it might do something for older people the way they get treated. I was a nobody and then all of a sudden, I'm a somebody and I can't understand why they make such a fuss?” Buster asks.
On this day, he's also being followed by a student photographer, and has telephone interviews with journalists in New York and India.
“Start with your right and you can catch ‘em out!” Buster explains.
After a round of boxing, Buster takes his second break with, yes, another pint.
CNN: So do you think you're gonna finish this marathon?
Buster: Well I'm gonna try. Never say I think I will. I'll try.
As for working, he says he'll stay on at Pimlico Plumbers until the end. After all he says, it pays for his beer.
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