Just a month before he celebrates his 83rd birthday, Ronald Leggett will take to Melbourne's streets and walk five kilometres in the Sunday Age City2Sea.
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But the great-grandfather of six, would rather be running.
Four weeks ago, Mr Leggett had a pacemaker fitted to his heart. It has cramped his style, but not for long.
The Springvale resident says he is on his way to recovery, and intends to run next year.
"I am doing rehab now, and I am getting my strength back day-by-day," Mr Leggett said.
"I walked up and down my stairs [at home] 10 times already today."
Mr Leggett is the only entrant in the male, 80-plus age bracket to have taken part in the Sunday Age City2Sea every year since it started in 2011.
This year he will join an expected crowd of more than 15,000 in what will be his sixth event.
Last year almost 10,000 people took part in the Sunday Age City2Sea event, raising nearly $400,000 for charity. Mr Leggett is raising funds for mental health organisation beyondblue.
"It is a very nice run ... that's why I was attracted right from the start," he said.
"It starts at the Art Centre and then along St Kilda Road around Beaconsfield Parade.
"Because you have the beach on the left hand side, and when you do the U-turn, you've got it on the right-hand side."
Mr Leggett says he won't be doing anything special to prepare for the walk, but will stick to his normal routine.
"I do a 40-minute walk to the shops to get The Age more or less every day" he said.
Mr Leggett, who works eight hours a week as an accountant, took to the healthy lifestyle at nearly 56 years of age.
He started running marathons in a bid to cure persistent colds and coughs. And he didn't stop till 2010.
Then he took up fun runs and half-marathons, including the Sunday Age City2Sea.
"For 40 years I had never ever had a bloody pill in my life. I hadn't even taken an aspirin," Mr Leggett said.
"I am only 65 kilograms, and I am a 181-centimetres tall. I am just on the 20 BMI [body mass index scale].
"I am sure I would have been dead by now if I hadn't been running."
The Sunday Age City2Sea, presented by Westpac, is on Sunday, November 20. To enter or donate to charity, visit thecity2sea.com.au.
