FIVE minutes into a conversation with Sharon Smith and you feel the need to pull on a pair of trainers and join her for a run.

Sharon’s enthusiasm is so infectious, British Athletics should employ her as a poster girl.

The 65-year-old grandmother is breathless about the positive benefits of running, the camaraderie of training with like-minded souls in the Running Somewhere Else club, and the simple joy of just being mobile.

Sharon, who has recently moved to Cirencester with husband David – for whose Cheltenham-based opticians Smith and Swepson she has worked down the years – only took up running in 2005.

Last month, she ran in the Budapest Marathon, recording a personal best time of 3hr 49min 08sec which sees her ranked as the third best over-65 female in the UK.

She is also either the third or fourth best at one mile, five miles and the half marathon. Her times are now faster than she has ever posted.

And that despite having a hip which is pinned and plated.

Plain Mrs Smith she may be, but as a runner she’s extraordinary and it is easy to see why she is so adored at her running club.

“I lived on Pancake Hill in Chedworth for 30 years and I always kept fit, went to the gym and exercised,” she said. “I had three children who all had bikes and ponies, and I had to run to keep up with them.

“I started running on my own, but I did have an incident that scared me when a man approached me on a lonely lane. So I quickly decided I wanted to run in the safety of a group.

“I knew Louise Thomas, an RSE member from Chedworth, and she said I should join her club.”

But it was a chance encounter with the girls of RSE at Burford Garden Centre that convinced her this was the club for her.

“I think they had just done a 10k in Witney and they were all there tucking into cake and hot chocolate with cream on top, and I thought these are ‘normal’ people, not superhuman.

“I joined Running Somewhere Else in 2012 and they have been a total inspiration ever since.

“The first time I ran with them in the Abbey Grounds it started to rain quite heavily and I thought they were bound to stop, but they kept going.

“I did give up and come home that day, but now I am hard core and run in all weathers.

“The girls are incredible, they run rain or shine and are always cheerful and there is always a lot of conversation.

“They are so lovely and encouraging to me and tell me I’m wonderful.

“And training with our coach Matt Lambourne is fun and different every week.”

As soon as Sharon was advised about how well she was doing, her competitive juices started to flow.

“Debbie Barry was one of the older members of the club and I could not believe her times,” said Sharon.

“Then John Buck came up to me one day and said I was in silver medal position for the county race series. I did not even know it existed.

“But I soon found the website and started monitoring my progress. I began reading athletics magazines and talking to fellow veterans, like Norm Lane of Bourton Roadrunners.

“I’ve now been overall women’s champion at the club for three years running and it is going to be a big deal when I accept the award at the Royal Agricultural University.”

Five years ago Sharon broke her hip in bizarre circumstances and she was determined not to go down the same route as her mother.

“She was very fit and active, but as soon as she became immobile she changed completely and deteriorated both physically and mentally before she died.

“I have had two serious illnesses, one when I fell over my dog while dancing around in the kitchen. I was out of action for some time and I could not stand it, especially when the surgeon told me to give up running.

“But I soon got back and I do take good care of myself.

“I have a little routine at home with weights and I am particular about my diet.

“I’m vegetarian, gluten free and I don’t eat much dairy. I’ve warned my husband we are about to become vegans.

“Of course, there is always room for the odd treat.”

Sharon’s 30-mile a week training regime will be cranked up to more than 50 miles after Christmas, with her second appearance in the London Marathon being her main focus.

“I have nine minutes to make up on British number one Angie Handforth of South West Vets to break her best time of 3:40, but I think it is doable.”

And perhaps even world domination beckons as Sharon plans to try her first triathlon in 2016.

If she can add respectable phases in the cycling and swimming disciplines, her running could see her proving hard to beat in the 65-69 age group category.

“I have competed in a duathlon before and my husband is a keen cyclist,” she said. “Next year I want to try a triathlon before I’m too old.

“I do cycle with my husband and I can swim, but I am going to get in the open water at Ashton Keynes and give it a go.

“But as long as I can keep running, I can keep living.”