Sedentary Obiter doffs a cap to Jeffrey Gordon, a 76-year-old criminal defence solicitor from Battersea who is set to run the London Marathon for the 30th time this year. Gordon is one of a group of indefatigable runners known as the ‘ever presents’ who have completed the event every year since it began in 1981.

Apparently, he was originally inspired to take up running due to an incident that occurred early on in his legal career. While in court, a prisoner who clearly didn’t rate his chances of acquittal decided to make a break for it, with the boys in blue in hot pursuit. Gordon managed to outrun the fuzz and apprehended the audacious escapee himself (presumably, it wasn’t his own client). It was at that point that he realised he had a talent for the sport.

Gordon’s best-ever time for the London marathon was a nippy 2 hours 42 minutes, but even in his eighth decade he boasts an average of 3 hours 30 minutes. Impressive, but not entirely surprising when you learn that Gordon often starts his day by running five miles around Wimbledon Common before heading into court, the office or the police station.

At least there is one part of the criminal justice system that is running very well indeed.