She'd run four times a week until motor neuron disease became part of her life.
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Now standing in the kitchen for an hour to cook dinner is a stretch for Margaret van Belkom.
As they say a problem shared is a problem halved and with her husband Paul by her side Mrs van Belkom gets around just about anywhere.
The Mawson couple will each be 65-years-old when they take on the 5km course at Canberra's Australian Running Festival on April 8-9.
"I've been in Canberra since 1971, so what's that 40-something years, and my husband was three when he came here from Holland," she said.
"I have done probably eight or nine half marathons in Canberra, 15 City to Surfs in Sydney and I used to do the 10km at the Running Festival each year."
Mrs van Belkom said after years of being so active getting used to how the disease limited her mobility had been a huge adjustment.
She has only had her wheelchair since November, but giggled as she admitted the 5km course was by far its longest journey.
"We managed to do a wonderful trip to a few countries in Europe with the wheelchair," she said. "The brand new wheelchair has been bashed and battered around. But it just shows you can do it when you are disabled. It can be done."
The determined duo has rustled up a team of friends to run and raise funds toward research into a cure.
"My husband has been working really hard to raise money for MND research. The more people that are aware of it and the more money raised the more likely a cure can be found.
"The target was $2000 but we have already reached that mark so Paul has upped it to $4000 now and it's still rising so that's wonderful."
Weaving through crowds of jostling bodies and enjoying the lively atmosphere at the race start was something Mrs van Belkom was eager to being part of again.
"It will be great just to get out in the fresh air and be with friends," she said.
"It's about looking forward to every day, not thinking about the future too much but enjoying the moment."
The Australian Running Festival aims to help raise $125,000 in 2017 for more than 250 charities. Participants can donate, sponsor a friend or create a team to raise money for their chosen charity. See the website for details.
