A beer and a smoke keep 101yr old marathoner running

London, April 14 : At 101, Britain's oldest employee Buster Martin is now the world's oldest marathon runner also.

The former army physical-training instructor, who is also a star with a pop group called 'The Zimmers', participated in the 26.2-mile London marathon on Sunday.

He, however, stopped for a beer, cigarette and some homemade sandwiches at the 13-mile mark.

"I've said I'll attempt it. I haven't said I'll complete it. I'll do what I always do and have a pint and a fag. People ask what's my secret but I haven't got one. They say fags and booze are bad for you - but I'm still here, aren't I?" the Scotsman quoted him as saying before he started running the marathon.

The father of 17 took his time off from a plumbing firm to get in shape for the event.

Martin, who returned to work aged 99 after enduring the boredom of his two years of retirement, had determined to break the record for the world's oldest marathon runner by eight years.

He ran the marathon along with charity fundraiser Lloyd Scott, celebrity cook Gordon Ramsay, and over 35,000 other runners. Gordon Ramsay, who finished in three hours, said: "There were thousands who came out - they were fantastic."

ANI