The 60-year-old endurance athlete might dread the thought of having to talk about her running prowess, but her exploits have been impossible to ignore in 2024

Barely a week went by in 2024 when Clare Elms didn’t break a world or British record in the W60 age group. The remarkable endurance runner from Beckenham went under the five-minute barrier for 1500m with 4:57.14, won multiple medals at the European Masters Indoor Champs in Poland and, such are her high standards, was slightly disappointed to run “only” 18:35.95 for 5000m.

She was a clear winner as your British female masters athlete of the 2024. What’s more, such is her popularity, a 13-minute profile of her on the athlete Callum Elson’s YouTube channel has been watched by well over 40,000 people in recent weeks. She’s not finished yet, either, with a number of races still scheduled for the end-of-year period.

Despite this the 60-year-old remains humble and almost embarrassed to be placed in the spotlight. “I hate talking about myself,” she says, “so I had this horrible dread when I heard you were going to call!”

Elms seems more interested in hearing a sneak preview of the names of her fellow award winners. “I have two pages in the magazine just on me?” she asks, scarcely believing the attention.

During our interview she is then keen to thank the countless officials who have marshalled or recorded her performances, giving a particular mention to Miriam Dorrity. “She’s been at so many of my races.”

Elms is also thankful to her kit sponsor, Soar, who have demonstrated that age is no barrier when it comes to supporting athletes.

This remarkable endurance athlete began training seriously around 15 years ago after giving birth to triplets. As a youngster she was aware she had more talent than most but didn’t pursue athletics at that age. Instead, she began to work in the city before later joining Beckenham Running Club.

She believes the fact that she didn’t run much in her youth has contributed to the relative freshness she feels in her legs compared to more battle-weary rivals. Even now, Elms rarely goes beyond 50 kilometres a week in training.

“I would say that never having done loads of miles is a major reason for my running well now,” she says, “and trying to focus on quality sessions is important. Also, consistency and trying to gradually improve without ever over-doing it. You have to be really determined as well.”

Elms has raced well over 50 times already this year, with an estimated eight world records and 16 British records, plus of course plenty of cross-country outings and relay races for her club.

Which race is she most proud of in 2024? “The 3000m at Tonbridge [a British 3000m record of 10:33.34] and I was obviously delighted to run the 4:57 for 1500m in Tooting.

“Every time I tried to do anything it was always quite windy so to eventually break five minutes there was really pleasing. I quite enjoyed the Vitality road mile in London, as well.”

Elms turned 60 on Boxing Day last year but she felt it took her a bit of time to find her form during 2024. “I kind of raced myself fit,” she says, ahead of enjoying her best races in August.

Coached by Steve Smythe, a long-time member of the AW team who retired from athletics journalism recently, Elms is aiming to run even quicker next year. 

“I’m hoping my momentum will run into next year and I don’t see any reason why I can’t run faster in 2025,” she says. “I’d love to get back inside 18 minutes for 5km. I just need to get the right race… and the right weather.

“I still feel like I haven’t been doing this very long,” she adds. “I still feel like I’m learning. Especially mixing with people like Steve, who has been around much longer than me. At 60, my times are dropping off, which can be a little upsetting, but I just have to accept that I’m 60 and this is what’s going to happen. The sport still gives me pleasure because of all the records to target and masters championships, which help keep things interesting.”

Elms often finds herself in track races rubbing shoulders with 13-year-olds and “feels old enough to be their granny”. But she says: “I enjoy racing the young athletes more because there’s no pressure. However if you have a good race with masters, they tend to pace things better. [You find] 13-year-olds don’t pace their races too well! I do get more stressed racing people of my own age as it means more to me to beat them.”

Clare Elms’ best races in 2024

Jan 28 – British Masters 3000m Championships, Sheffield, First, 10:48.14 (missed the world record by 0.01)
Feb 2 – Ealing Road Mile, 5:33 (world and UK best)
Feb 18 – BMAF Championships 1500m, Lee Valley, First
Mar 17-23 – European Masters Championships, Toruń, First in 800m, 1500m, 3000m, cross-country individual and team
May 6 – BMC Oxford Mile, 5:30.88 (UK best)
Jul 17 – Wimbledon Mile 5:26.13 (world record); 1500m split 5:05.04 (UK record)
Jul 27-28 – BMAF Championships, Derby, First in 800m and 1500m
Aug 6 – Tonbridge 1500m, 5:03.95 (UK record)
Aug 15 – Aldershot 1500m, 5:02.22 (UK record)
Aug 17 – Southern League, Ware 800m 2:29.64 (UK record)
Aug 17 – Southern League, Ware 1500m 5:02.09 (UK record)
Aug 26 – Tonbridge 3000m 10:33.34 (UK record)
Aug 31 –  Veterans AC 1500m Championships, Tooting, 4:57.14 (world and UK record)
Sept 4 – Tooting Mile 5:25.19 (world and UK record)
Sept 21 – Westminster Mile 5:21 (world best)
Sept 28 – Canterbury 5000m 18:35.95 (UK record)
Oct 26 – Wolverton 5 30:44 (world best)
Nov 16 – Masters International Cross Country, Belfast, W60 gold

» This article first appeared in the December issue of AW magazine. Subscribe to AW magazine here, check out our new podcast here or sign up to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here