Jenny Wood-Allen

Jenny Wood-Allen MBE (20 November 1911 – 30 December 2010) was a Scottish councillor who became a marathon runner at the age of 71. She went on to run more than 50 marathons and became a Guinness World Record holder as the oldest female marathon finisher in 1999, aged 87. She was awarded an MBE in 2004 for services to charity and distance running.

She took up cycling in her 20s, joining a men's cycling club. She was an unofficial Scottish women's champion time triallist as women's cycling was not a recognised sport. She was awarded honorary membership of Dundee Roadrunners.

She married Roy Wood in 1938 and they had three sons. As a councillor, she helped organise the first Dundee marathon in 1983. She trained and ran in it, despite being advised that she was too old at the age of 71. Her finishing time was 5 hours 34 minutes. She went on to run more than 50 full marathons and raised over £70,000 for charity.

Wood-Allen made national headlines when she completed the 1999 London Marathon at 87 years old. Her time of 7 hours 14 mins 46 secs earned her the Guinness World Record for Oldest Female Marathon Finisher.

Later life and death Wood-Allen was widowed in 1991. In December 2006, £700 worth of jewellery was stolen from her home.