feel good
Runner Nancy Dickman, 83, prepares for her next marathon at 90
Nancy Dickman was the oldest competitor in the Sydney Marathon in 2023. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)
Nancy Dickman is living proof that the benefits of exercise go far beyond physical fitness.
The 83-year-old from Lake Macquarie, south of Newcastle, is a marathon runner, and has been tackling the 42-kilometre journey at least once a decade since she was 40.
Her most recent was in 2023, at 80, where Nancy was the oldest competitor in the Sydney Marathon and ranked 15th in the world for her age group.
Nancy Dickman running in the Sydney Marathon at 80 in 2023. (Supplied: Sydney Marathon)
"It gives you a sense of achievement, testing yourself," she said.
"It just makes you feel good, it's pretty simple."
She has run 15 marathons in her life, including in London, New York and Rome.
"I'm hoping to stay fit enough to do one at 90, but that's a big ask, because there's a lot of years between now and then," she said.
Physical, mental benefits
Nancy started running when she was 35, while living in Broken Hill working as a teacher.
Initially, she would run the length of a football field, but over time built up her stamina to be able to complete her first marathon at 40.
While she welcomed the physical benefits of running, she said she was surprised by how much it helped her mental health.
"It's been shown now to be good for mental health, but that wasn't always promoted," she said.
Nancy is a regular at the weekly Lakeview parkrun in Lake Macquarie. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)
"I thought, 'I'd like to sort of research that', and perhaps influence government policy that exercise would be promoted not just for physical wellbeing but mental wellbeing."
She was inspired to complete a PhD on the effect exercise has on older women's self-concept, publishing her work in 2005 on the University of New South Wales Medicine and Health faculty website.
Nancy found that older women who walked regularly either alone or in a group experienced significantly improved physical and social self-concept and more positive perceptions of their bodies and fitness.
She says she notices those impacts in her own life, too.
"The physical [benefits] I guess it keeps me healthy, I don't take any medication for anything," she said.
"But the biggest benefit is mental.
"If you're anxious, go for a run, if you're feeling a bit depressed, go for a run, If you want to think about something, work out some problems, go for a run."
Nancy says running benefits her mental health. (Supplied: The Beaches Parkrun)
'An inspiration'
She is a regular at her local weekly parkrun at Lake Macquarie and is the oldest female participant.
Lakeview Parkrun director Peter Scotchmer said she was an inspiration to the other runners.
"You see the young kids just looking at her in awe,"he said.
"That someone who is old enough to be their great grandmother in many cases is running past them and enjoying it and doing a great job."
Peter Scotchmer says Nancy is the oldest female participant at the Lakeview parkrun. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)
"I'm hitting that age myself and I'd just love to be as active and involved and have the mental acuity that she has."
Mr Scotchmer said Ms Dickson ran the five-kilometre course in about 32 minutes.
"For her age she is an exceptional runner, she's up there among the top runners in the world for her age group."
Nancy at the snowy parkrun in Sweden. (Supplied: Nancy Dickman)
Earlier this year, Nancy ran about 225km in 19 days for the virtual charity run 'Run Against Violence', and was the oldest person ever to finish the event.
She has also competed in multiple Masters Games — both nationally and internationally- which is a multi-sport festival for adults (typically 30+ years) celebrating sport, active lifestyles, and camaraderie.
"I want to continue running and parkrun of a Saturday," she says.
"Hopefully I stay fit enough to continue and if I can't, I can walk maybe."