BEFORE Craig Vernon turned 50, he had never run once – not even for the bus.

By his own admission, the dad-of-one, of Samphire Close, Witham, was often tired, grumpy and “a bit tubby”.

However since hitting the milestone birthday Mr Vernon, now 51, decided to have a change of lifestyle, which has led to a new lease of life.

In a year, he has competed in 27 park runs, run the Colchester half marathon and racked up at least 400 miles in training, raising hundreds of pounds for the British Heart Foundation and Help for Heroes in the process.

By leading a new active lifestyle, Mr Vernon has also lost two-and-a-half stone – dropping from 14.5 stone to a trim 12 stone.