Capital's super-fit 75-year-old set for duathlon challenge

FOR many 75-year-olds, a wander to the shop to pick up the paper is as strenuous as it gets.

Even many people half Arnott Kidd's age are taking their foot off the gas.

But the city pensioner is gearing up for a 55km challenge which would make most teenagers shudder.

Not surprisingly the semi-retired chemist, from Portobello, will be one of the oldest competitors at the World Duathlon Championships, taking place in the Capital next weekend.

The event, which is contained entirely within Holyrood Park, involves a 10km run, a 40km cycle, topped off with another 5km run.

Arnott is not just there to make up the numbers, he is determined to compete with, and even surpass, competitors decades younger than him.

"I suppose I have become quite obsessive about it, and fitness has been a by-product of that," said Arnott, who trains for around 12 hours a week.

"I've competed in championships all across the world, but it's great to be doing it in my home patch.

"If it's wet and windy it will be very tough, and I wouldn't be surprised if some people didn't bother taking part, so it might even play into my hands because I'm well used to it."

Around 1000 contestants will descend on Edinburgh between Friday and Sunday for what is a little-known event in Scotland, despite immense popularity worldwide.

"It's really a fantastic thing, and I hope people hear of it and decide to take it up," said Arnott, who is finally preparing to hang up his bike and running shoes, competitively at least.

"I want to go out on a high," he said. "I go to Budapest for an event next week, which will be tough so soon after this one, and then I think that'll be it.

"I've obviously become slower over the years and the decline is fairly steady, although not drastic.

"Within that there are peaks and troughs and I get a huge buzz from these events.

"People are surprised I'm still doing it at my age, but then people have been saying that kind of thing to me for almost 50 years.

"I always feel the need to do something, and get a bit twitchy if I'm not, so I'll be still keeping fit."

His wife Heather might also miss his participation in the international events, as she travels across the world with him to spectate.

"She's tremendously supportive, and we've seen a lot of the world thanks to these competitions," added the tee-totaller.

"I've done far more travelling in the second half of my life than I did in the first because of it."

For details of the event visit www.edinburghduathlon2010.com.