KELLY'S HEROES

The double Olympic gold medallist tells LISA SALMON she wants to inspire all ages to use this summer to start getting active and improve their nutrition

- LISA SALMON

AS the weather warms up and you can't hide under baggy jumpers any longer, now's a great time to think about getting a bit healthier.

And no matter what your fitness level, you may take inspiration from Olympic champion runner Dame Kelly Holmes, who still loves the challenge of keeping fit, despite retiring from the track years ago.

At the age of 55, Kelly still runs three times a week, as well as doing weight training, and she's urging others - whatever their age - to try to improve their fitness this summer.

"I keep fit for both my body to still do the things I want to do and for my mental health," she says. "I don't have an agenda with running as such - if I enter a half marathon, I'm doing it as a challenge to myself to keep moving.

"I don't want to not do it, I can't not do it - I have to do something," she declares. "I think it's a really positive thing for people to keep moving."

The former athlete, who won two gold medals in the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Athens Olympics, is encouraging people of all ages to use any good summer weather as a motivation to up their fitness levels.

She says: "With the longer days, people are able to fit a lot more in, and good weather gives you that lifted spirit - you see more people walking, running and cycling, and a lot of people, maybe like me, use that freedom of time to keep fitter."