However, I remembered hearing in the news last year about a remarkable woman named Joy Johnson. At the ripe old age of 86, she finished the 2013 NYC marathon, for the 25th time!
NBC
(Here is Joy, showing off her medal to Al Roker the morning after the marathon.)
During an interview years before, she stated that she wished to die running. She nearly got her wish, passing away the day after completing the marathon. While I was searching the Internet for stuff on Mrs. Johnson, I also came across another marathon legend, Fauja Singh.
By HiraV (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Mr. Singh, my friends, is the oldest marathon runner in the world. He earned this distinction at the 2000 London marathon, at the age of 100. But he didn't stop there. Before his retirement, he ran a total of 9 marathons, scoring his personal best, 5:40, at the 2003 Toronto marathon. He ran his last competitive race, a 10K, at the age of 101. Although he no longer races, he still runs about 4 hours a day. Isn't he amazing looking? He looks like a Sikh Gandalf.
Running a marathon at the age of 86 and 100 is incredibly inspiring. I could probably end this post right here. However, that isn't the most incredible part of either of their stories. Mrs. Johnson didn't start running until she went on a 3 mile walk at the age of 59 and found it energizing. 59! And Mr. Singh started at 89! 89 is practically 3 times my entire life on earth so far.
At 59, Mrs. Johnson had raised 4 children and was near retirement from her teaching career. After she fell in love with the sport, she dedicated herself to training and began amassing awards and trophies. She continued running through her husband's death, following an unwavering daily routine that began at 4am with a breakfast of coffee and oatmeal. Mr. Singh began running as a way to cope with depression after the deaths of his fifth son, his wife and his eldest daughter. Even more amazing, due to childhood health complications, he did not develop the ability to walk until he was 5 years old.
Although marathon training takes a necessary amount of competitiveness and drive, both of which Mr. Singh and Mrs. Johnson had in spades, what I find most inspirational about them is their acceptance of their limitations. Before her last marathon, Mrs. Johnson stated in an interview that she planned on sticking to her pace and walking when necessary. She was quoted as saying,"I’ll be at the back of the pack, but I don’t mind. I just praise the Lord I can get out of bed each morning and run. A lot of people my age are in wheelchairs." During an interview, Mr. Singh was asked about his running routine during retirement and he answered, "I cover the same distance as always as I have a set routine. In the past it was more running, some jogging, and a little walking. Now, it is a little running, some jogging, and more walking. The total is still 10 miles."
As age began slowing them both down, they just altered their routines to accommodate the changing capabilities of their bodies. To me, both of these runners embody the best way of aging. In a world where more and more people get plastic surgery or botox to keep their youthful appearance, these two exhibit a graceful way of staying youthful. I imagine that running 10 miles at the age of 90 would make me feel infinitely more youthful and alive than having a frightening face-lift.
Looks and aging aside, these stories also remind me of the uniqueness and accessibility of running as a sport. You would never hear of a 100 year old gymnast or a 100 year old football player still in the game. As we learned last week, running is a natural part of not only being human, but being a part of the animal kingdom. Disabilities aside, running is a sport for everyone. This is no more apparent than during marathons, when you see people of all sorts of shapes, sizes, color, sex and ages running through the streets.
When the training schedule or injury management starts to wear me down, I will call upon the examples of Ms. Johnson and Mr. Singh. I will remind myself that running is a beautiful reminder of being alive, and that it is a shared connection between all of humanity and the animal kingdom.
I will be kind to myself and accommodate for any changes in my capabilities.
And lastly, I will remember that even in the real world, unlikely characters can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.
Running a marathon at the age of 86 and 100 is incredibly inspiring. I could probably end this post right here. However, that isn't the most incredible part of either of their stories. Mrs. Johnson didn't start running until she went on a 3 mile walk at the age of 59 and found it energizing. 59! And Mr. Singh started at 89! 89 is practically 3 times my entire life on earth so far.
At 59, Mrs. Johnson had raised 4 children and was near retirement from her teaching career. After she fell in love with the sport, she dedicated herself to training and began amassing awards and trophies. She continued running through her husband's death, following an unwavering daily routine that began at 4am with a breakfast of coffee and oatmeal. Mr. Singh began running as a way to cope with depression after the deaths of his fifth son, his wife and his eldest daughter. Even more amazing, due to childhood health complications, he did not develop the ability to walk until he was 5 years old.
Although marathon training takes a necessary amount of competitiveness and drive, both of which Mr. Singh and Mrs. Johnson had in spades, what I find most inspirational about them is their acceptance of their limitations. Before her last marathon, Mrs. Johnson stated in an interview that she planned on sticking to her pace and walking when necessary. She was quoted as saying,"I’ll be at the back of the pack, but I don’t mind. I just praise the Lord I can get out of bed each morning and run. A lot of people my age are in wheelchairs." During an interview, Mr. Singh was asked about his running routine during retirement and he answered, "I cover the same distance as always as I have a set routine. In the past it was more running, some jogging, and a little walking. Now, it is a little running, some jogging, and more walking. The total is still 10 miles."
As age began slowing them both down, they just altered their routines to accommodate the changing capabilities of their bodies. To me, both of these runners embody the best way of aging. In a world where more and more people get plastic surgery or botox to keep their youthful appearance, these two exhibit a graceful way of staying youthful. I imagine that running 10 miles at the age of 90 would make me feel infinitely more youthful and alive than having a frightening face-lift.
Looks and aging aside, these stories also remind me of the uniqueness and accessibility of running as a sport. You would never hear of a 100 year old gymnast or a 100 year old football player still in the game. As we learned last week, running is a natural part of not only being human, but being a part of the animal kingdom. Disabilities aside, running is a sport for everyone. This is no more apparent than during marathons, when you see people of all sorts of shapes, sizes, color, sex and ages running through the streets.
By Peter van der Sluijs (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
When the training schedule or injury management starts to wear me down, I will call upon the examples of Ms. Johnson and Mr. Singh. I will remind myself that running is a beautiful reminder of being alive, and that it is a shared connection between all of humanity and the animal kingdom.
I will be kind to myself and accommodate for any changes in my capabilities.
And lastly, I will remember that even in the real world, unlikely characters can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.
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