MOST people turning 60 would want to put their feet up. But one woman is doing the opposite, and will run her first ever half marathon instead.

Susan Walker will take on the Great North Run tomorrow (Sunday).

She decided she wanted to do something to mark her 60th birthday in November, and after her brother suggested the idea, decided to enter the gruelling 13.1 mile race.

Susan, of Chiltern Road, Hitchin, said: “I decided that, as I had been running for a few months, I wanted to set myself a challenge.

“I’m from the north-east originally, so it seemed like a great thing to do.

“People seem quite surprised about what I’m doing. When I told my son that I was going to do this, he joked ‘why don’t you just have a party like everyone else’.”

The 59-year-old is running for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, after a friend was diagnosed with the condition.

She has had to keep upping her fundraising target, after surpassing the �500 and �1,000 mark, and has so far raised �1,300.

“It’s such a terrible disease. I now know someone who has been diagnosed with it and I see that not enough is being done about it. It’s lovely to know that I will be helping,” said Susan, who took up running only recently.

She added: “I know now I can do it, I’m within striking distance.

“I certainly think I could do it in two-and-a-half hours.

“I’ve done a 12-mile run in training, which is what you’re supposed to do, and the last mile you run on adrenaline.”

To sponsor Susan, visit www.justgiving.com/susan-walker1