According to Age UK Barnet’s Age-friendly survey, 62% of Barnet residents aged 55+ feel confident with using digital technology such as tablets and laptops. It also showed a correlation between being confident with using technology and feeling safe and taking part in social groups.

These results made me think how I use technology. It made me conscious that I used Google Maps to plan my runs, measured my speed with my watch, and always uploaded details of my runs onto Strava. Technology certainly made it easier to track my training, but I started to become concerned about my reliance on it. So, I decided to ditch technology and train for a marathon without it.

My training has refreshed my skills in map reading and long multiplication, I have become less obsessive about statistics and more concerned about how I feel. It may sound silly, but I am surprised by how great my experience without technology has been.

I hope that this challenge can raise awareness on the issue of digital exclusion that many older adults face, but mainly, I hope it shows how much we can learn from other generations when we meaningfully engage and work together.

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